About Garofalo
Garofalo: Premium Italian Pasta from Gragnano Since 1789 Garofalo represents over two centuries of Italian pasta-making excellence from Gragnano, the historic home of dried pasta near Naples. With PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) certification guaranteeing authentic origin and traditional production methods, Garofalo has earned its reputation as one of Italy's finest pasta makers. At Grocefully, we help you compare Garofalo prices across UK supermarkets to find the best deals on this premium Italian import. A Legacy Beginning in 1789 The Garofalo story begins with a Royal Decree from the Kingdom of Naples in 1789. Signore Lucio Garofalo received the first permit for producing and selling the highest quality pasta, establishing a tradition that continues today. Gragnano, located on the slopes of the Gulf of Naples, provided ideal conditions for pasta production. The town's unique microclimate, natural spring water with perfect mineral compositions, and centuries of artisan expertise made it the birthplace of dried pasta as we know it. For generations, the Garofalo family and their successors maintained these traditional methods whilst the pasta-making district of Gragnano developed its legendary reputation. The town's narrow streets were once lined with pasta drying in the Mediterranean breeze, a practice that shaped production techniques still honoured today. The Menna Family and Modern Development The Menna family held shares in Pastificio Lucio Garofalo from 1952, bringing both capital and vision to the historic company. In 1997, the family took full control, beginning a new chapter focused on premium quality positioning. Under Menna family leadership, Garofalo launched its distinctive brand line in Italy in 2001. The relaunch proved immediately successful, establishing Garofalo as a benchmark for superior-quality pasta among Italian consumers who take their pasta very seriously indeed. This period combined respect for traditional methods with modern quality control systems. The company invested in technology whilst preserving the bronze die extrusion and slow drying processes that define premium pasta production. Ebro Foods Acquisition In 2014, Spanish multinational Ebro Foods acquired a 52% majority shareholding in Pastificio Lucio Garofalo S.p.A. for €62.5 million. This investment brought global distribution capability whilst maintaining Italian production and quality standards. Ebro Foods operates as the world leader in rice and the second-largest group in international pasta. Their portfolio approach allowed Garofalo to expand internationally whilst remaining true to its Gragnano roots. Today, Garofalo exports to over 60 countries worldwide. The company owns three brands – Garofalo, Santa Lucia, and Russo de Cicciano – maintaining a major position in the dry pasta premium segment in Italy and internationally. What Makes Garofalo Premium Several factors distinguish Garofalo from mass-market pasta brands, justifying its premium positioning and price point. Bronze Die Extrusion All Garofalo pasta passes through traditional bronze dies during shaping. Unlike modern Teflon dies that produce smooth pasta, bronze creates a rough, porous surface texture. This roughness matters enormously for sauce adhesion. When you cook Garofalo spaghetti or penne, the sauce clings to and absorbs into the pasta rather than sliding off. The difference is immediately apparent when eating. Bronze dies wear faster than Teflon alternatives, requiring more frequent replacement and increasing production costs. Most mass-market producers abandoned bronze decades ago for efficiency reasons. Garofalo's commitment to bronze extrusion reflects quality prioritisation over production economics. Slow Drying Process Traditional pasta drying takes time – sometimes days rather than the hours possible with modern high-temperature methods. Garofalo maintains extended drying periods that preserve flavour and create the optimal texture. Fast drying at high temperatures can damage proteins and starches, affecting both cooking performance and taste. Slow drying produces pasta that holds its shape during cooking, achieves proper al dente texture, and releases starch gradually for silky sauce integration. Desert Durum Wheat Selection Garofalo selects wheat varieties meeting specific requirements beyond basic quality standards. Their semolina comes from robust desert durum wheat chosen for particular gluten levels, colour, cleanliness, and flavour characteristics. This selective approach means rejecting wheat that would produce acceptable but unremarkable pasta. The resulting semolina provides the foundation for distinctive taste and cooking performance that cheap ingredients cannot replicate. Gragnano PGI Certification Protected Geographical Indication certification guarantees that Garofalo pasta is genuinely produced in Gragnano using methods meeting specific standards. This isn't merely a marketing claim but legal protection requiring verification and compliance. Together with 13 other producers, Garofalo belongs to the Gragnano Città della Pasta Consortium, which since 2019 serves as the official protection consortium for the PGI designation. This collective protection ensures Gragnano's pasta heritage remains meaningful rather than diluted by imitators. The Product Range Garofalo produces an extensive range covering traditional shapes and modern innovations. Classic Dried Pasta The core range includes every traditional Italian pasta shape you might need. Spaghetti in various thicknesses, penne rigate, fusilli, farfalle, rigatoni, linguine, pappardelle, bucatini, and many more provide options for any sauce or recipe. Each shape is designed for specific sauce pairings – tubes capture chunky sauces, long strands suit olive oil or tomato-based preparations, and ridged surfaces grip cream sauces. Understanding these relationships helps home cooks achieve restaurant-quality results. Whole Wheat Options For those seeking additional fibre, Garofalo offers whole wheat pasta varieties. These maintain the bronze die texture and quality standards whilst providing nutritional benefits from wholegrain flour. Whole wheat pasta requires careful cooking to avoid mushiness. Garofalo's version achieves the balance between maintaining wholegrain benefits and delivering enjoyable texture. Gluten-Free Range Garofalo's gluten-free pasta uses alternative flour blends to recreate traditional shapes for those with coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity. The range covers popular shapes including spaghetti, penne, and fusilli. Gluten-free pasta presents technical challenges – without gluten's binding properties, achieving proper texture requires careful formulation. Garofalo's versions rank among the better gluten-free options available, though texture inevitably differs from wheat-based originals. Organic Pasta Certified organic versions meet additional standards regarding agricultural practices and ingredient sourcing. These products appeal to consumers prioritising organic production methods. Costco UK offers a Garofalo Organic Pasta Variety Pack with six 500g packs covering Penne Ziti Rigate, Fusilli, and Casarecce. This bulk option provides value for regular organic pasta consumers. High Protein Pasta Recent innovations include high-protein pasta containing 19g protein and 12g fibre per serving. These products target fitness-conscious consumers seeking protein from food sources rather than supplements. The high-protein range maintains Garofalo's premium production methods whilst offering enhanced nutritional profiles for specific dietary requirements. Where to Buy Garofalo in the UK Garofalo has established distribution across various UK retail channels. Ocado Ocado stocks a comprehensive Garofalo range including core dried pasta shapes. The online platform provides convenient access for those without nearby physical stockists. Zoom by Ocado, the rapid delivery service, also carries Garofalo products for same-day requirements. Costco UK Costco offers bulk Garofalo options including the organic variety pack. Membership-based warehouse pricing provides value for those willing to buy larger quantities. The six-pack organic variety set covers multiple shapes, providing variety whilst offering bulk savings compared to individual purchases. Amazon UK Amazon's dedicated Pasta Garofalo store offers the full range including standard, whole wheat, gluten-free, and organic options. Prime delivery provides convenience, though checking pricing against other retailers makes sense. Specialist Italian Retailers Independent Italian food shops often stock Garofalo alongside other premium Italian brands. Shops like Nifeislife.com offer same-day and next-day UK delivery with authentic Italian product expertise. Pecks Farm Shop and similar specialty retailers stock selected Garofalo varieties for local customers seeking quality ingredients. Finding Local Stockists Garofalo's website includes a store locator at pasta-garofalo.com/uk/find-a-store/ helping customers identify nearby stockists. The wholesalers page lists UK supermarket chains carrying the brand. Using Garofalo Pasta Premium pasta benefits from proper cooking technique to maximise the investment. Salting the Water Use generously salted water – it should taste noticeably salty. This is your only opportunity to season the pasta itself, not just the sauce. Most home cooks under-salt their pasta water. Achieving Al Dente Follow package timing as a guide but test before draining. Al dente pasta should offer slight resistance when bitten, with a tiny white line visible in cross-section. Garofalo's quality means proper al dente is achievable rather than pasta that goes from hard to mushy with minimal window. Finishing in Sauce Reserve pasta water before draining. Transfer pasta directly to sauce rather than dumping sauce onto drained pasta. The starchy cooking water helps emulsify sauce and coat pasta properly. Avoid rinsing pasta – this removes surface starch that helps sauce adhesion. The bronze die texture works with surface starch to create proper sauce cling. Respecting Shapes Different shapes suit different sauces. Long pasta like spaghetti works best with oil-based or smooth tomato sauces. Tubes and ridged shapes capture chunky or creamy sauces. Wide noodles like pappardelle suit rich meat ragùs. Understanding these relationships isn't snobbery but practical cooking wisdom developed over centuries. Garofalo vs Other Brands Comparison questions arise frequently among pasta enthusiasts. Garofalo vs Barilla Barilla represents the mass-market segment – widely available, consistently acceptable, competitively priced. Garofalo positions as premium with traditional methods. The differences are genuine rather than merely marketing. Bronze extrusion versus Teflon creates different texture. Longer drying times affect cooking performance. Wheat selection influences flavour subtleties. Whether these differences justify price premiums depends on individual palates and priorities. Most blind taste tests confirm discernible differences, though preferences vary. Garofalo vs De Cecco De Cecco occupies similar premium positioning with comparable traditional methods. Both use bronze dies and careful wheat selection. Choice between them often comes down to availability, specific shape preferences, or individual taste. Both brands justify premium pricing through production quality rather than marketing alone. Garofalo vs Own-Brand Premium Supermarket premium ranges sometimes claim similar production methods at lower prices. Quality varies considerably. Reading packaging carefully helps distinguish genuine traditional production from marketing claims. Price Considerations Garofalo commands premium prices – typically £2-3 per 500g pack compared to £1 or less for budget options. This represents significant percentage difference but modest absolute cost per meal. A 500g pack serves four portions generously. Even at premium pricing, pasta remains an economical meal foundation. The question becomes whether quality differences justify paying twice as much for an ingredient costing pence per serving regardless. For those who appreciate texture and flavour differences, Garofalo represents reasonable value. For those viewing pasta purely as bulk carbohydrate delivery, premium pricing makes less sense. Comparing prices across retailers helps manage costs. Bulk options from Costco or multi-buy offers reduce per-unit pricing significantly. Italian Pasta Culture Understanding Garofalo means understanding Italian pasta culture more broadly. Regional Traditions Italy's pasta traditions vary regionally. Northern Italy favours egg-based fresh pasta. Southern Italy, including Campania where Gragnano sits, developed dried pasta traditions suited to the climate. Gragnano's specific conditions – sea breezes, mountain air, pure water – made it ideal for drying pasta outdoors. The town's geography created natural drying chambers that modern facilities replicate mechanically. Shape Meanings Pasta shapes aren't arbitrary but functional designs refined over generations. Each shape evolved to work with specific sauces, cooking methods, or regional preferences. Respecting these relationships isn't pedantry but practical wisdom. Using orecchiette with ragù works differently than pappardelle – both delicious but different eating experiences. Quality Hierarchy Italians distinguish between everyday pasta and special occasion pasta. Premium brands like Garofalo occupy the special occasion tier – not daily consumption but worthy of important meals. This cultural context explains why Italian families might stock both budget pasta for Tuesday dinners and premium pasta for Sunday lunches. The products serve different purposes. Sustainability and Ethics Modern consumers increasingly consider supply chain ethics alongside product quality. PGI Protection The Protected Geographical Indication system preserves traditional production methods and regional expertise. Supporting PGI products helps maintain food heritage against industrial homogenisation. Gragnano's pasta industry provides employment and economic stability for the region. Purchasing authentic Gragnano pasta supports this community rather than generic alternatives manufactured anywhere. Agricultural Practices Wheat sourcing practices affect environmental impact. Organic options address concerns about agricultural chemicals. Durum wheat cultivation generally requires less intensive inputs than some crops. Ebro Foods' corporate sustainability commitments apply to Garofalo operations, though specific details vary by product line. Conclusion From a Royal Decree in 1789 to modern global distribution, Garofalo represents authentic Italian pasta excellence. Bronze die extrusion, slow drying, careful wheat selection, and Gragnano PGI certification justify premium positioning for those who appreciate quality differences. The brand suits cooks who notice texture differences, care about sauce adhesion, and view pasta as more than neutral carbohydrate bulk. Premium pricing reflects genuine production quality rather than mere marketing. Whether shopping at Ocado for convenience, Costco for bulk value, or specialist Italian retailers for expert guidance, compare Garofalo prices through Grocefully to find the best deals on premium Italian pasta that's been made the right way since 1789.