Il Fornaio Corporate Offices

Specialties

l Fornaio (America) Corp. owns and operates 21 full-​service restaurants serving creatively prepared, premium-​quality Italian cuisine based on authentic regional Italian recipes.

Il Fornaio «Cucina Italiana e Panetteria» (restaurants and retail bakeries) provide in-​house dining, as well as a retail market, offering Il Fornaio’s unique baked goods, prepared foods, and a variety of Il Fornaio-​brand products.

The company also operates two «Panificios» (wholesale bakeries) that produce fresh, handmade breads, pastries, and other baked goods for sale in Il Fornaio locations, as well as in high-​quality grocery stores, coffee retailers, hotels, and other fine restaurants.

In conjunction with the restaurant and bakeries, Il Fornaio also operates catering facilities at such prestigious locations as The Hotel St. Claire and The Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto

History

Established in 1981.

1972 Il Fornaio baking school established in Barlassina (Lombardia), Italy.

1975 Il Fornaio opens its first retail bakery in Milan in an attempt to save the disappearing neighborhood bakery in Italy.

1981 Il Fornaio retail bakery concept imported to the United States by Williams-​Sonoma.

1981 – 1983 Four Il Fornaio bakeries open in California.

1983 Williams-​Sonoma sells Il Fornaio (America) Corp. to group of private investors.

1985 Annual revenues approach $ 6 million with a net loss of $ 580,000.

1987 Larry Mindel acquires Il Fornaio, leads opening of first Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana (restaurant and bakery) in Corte Madera (Marin County) California.

1988 – 1995 Il Fornaio opens 11 restaurants with bakeries in California.

1991 Il Fornaio Baking Book Published by Chronicle Books.

1995 Mike Hislop joins Il Fornaio as President and COO.

1995 Festa Regionale, a company-​wide monthly celebration of the bread, food and wine of a different region of Italy, begins

1996 Il Fornaio opens in L