Nino was born in a lineage of master butchers next to the church in a small village known as San Nicola di Caulonia located in the isolated hills of Calabria in southern Italy.

Education was a privilege in those days as to survive the poverty all the children were sent to work from a very young age. Nino was trained in the family business by his father as soon as he learnt to carve with a knife. With time and only after many years of struggle from working in San Nicola to the city of Milan he could afford to set his sights beyond Italy.

Fortunately, he met his beautiful future wife Bianca in the same village and she accepted the offer to create a better life for their future children and grandchildren.

The boat Flaminia departed from Messina on April 5th 1956 bringing a young teenager Nino to his new country arriving in the port of Melbourne. Immigration inspected the vessel and were amazed that anybody survived the 40 day world journey as it was not deemed safe anymore.

After visa clearance the memories of Italy were left behind as they boarded trains to reach their final destinations as Australia was now home. As Nino was no stranger to “hard work” he quickly was able to save enough money to bring his loyal fiancée Bianca to Adelaide for their marriage at the local St.Francis of Assissi Church in Newton.

With humble beginnings the dedicated husband and wife team established Nino’s Meat & Smallgoods business manufacturing small quantities with daily deliveries. As the recipes were authentic the reputation grew fast touching the hearts of many people.

Three beautiful children followed and the rest is history as the results from Nino & Bianca’s vision, passion and commitment speak for itself.