TIMELINE
1961: |
The Panini family launches their first “figurine” (Panini stickers) series in Italy |
1974: |
Umberto Panini purchases Hombre Farm. |
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1980-88: |
Height of the success of the Panini sticker company while under Panini family ownership. |
1988: |
Sale of the Panini company to the Maxwell Group. Umberto Panini dedicates himself to developing Hombre Farm. |
1993: |
Construction begins of the Panini Museo. |
1994: |
Hombre Farm introduces organic farming methods. |
1996: |
Matteo begins apprenticeship working at Hombre. |
Oct, 1996: |
Alejandro DeTomaso sends the Maserati “Museo,” a collection of rare Maserati cars collected over the years by the factory, to Brooks in London to be auctioned off in December. |
Nov, 1996 |
Umberto Panini tenders a successful offer to Brooks, purchasing the entire collection and returning it to the city of Modena to be housed in the recently constructed museum at Hombre Farm. |
Aug, 1998: |
Matteo Panini & Seymour G. Pond meet during MASER MIGLIA II in California. |
2000: |
Matteo finishes his doctorate in economics (Phd.) at University of Modena and becomes Hombre manager full time. |
1992-2002: |
Seymour G. Pond makes visits to Hombre Farm and the Panini Museo. |
Apr, 2003: |
Matteo Panini & Seymour G.Pond form the Pondini Import company in the U.S. |
Dec, 2003: |
Arrival of first shipment of Hombre cheese! |
April, 2004: |
NYC debut of Pondini & Bio-Hombre at the Ferrari-Maserati Gala to benefit the Eastside Settlement House during the NY Auto Show! |
FIGURINE HISTORY In 1961 Umberto, Franco, Giuseppe, & Benito Panini developed a new business which became famous in Italy as a cultural icon—”figurine”—sports stickers which were bought, collected, and traded all over Italy and eventually, all over the world. In fact it is said that if you put all the Panini’s stickers end to end they would stretch around the world 7 times! Ask anyone growing up in Italy from the 60s to the late 80s and you’ll likely get an “Ahhh yes, the figurine!” At the height of its success in 1988, the family was made “an offer it couldn’t refuse” and the business was sold to the Maxwell Group (and later to subsequent international enterprises). Currently it is still in successful operation under the ownership of Marvel Entertainment (for more on this see paninionline.com).
Panini Figurine
CHEESE HISTORY Upon the successful sale of the Panini company, Umberto Panini found himself a wealthy man but without a job! He thought about what to do and decided to try his hand at dairy farming, developing a small family property on the outskirts of Modena. At the time, the farm consisted of a group of stables and 20 hectares of grazing land dedicated to the production of parmesan cheese. After many years of hard work, modernization, and capital investment, Hombre Farm grew to become the largest fully computerized dairy farm in Italy. At the beginning of 1994, due to constantly improving the quality and quantity of production, Hombre was able to introduce organic farming which meant meeting the highest and strictest quality controls. Because of this they began to produce parmesan cheese of superior quality.
CAR HISTORY In 1996, quite apart from these agricultural developments, a local controversy raged in the town where Hombre Farm was located, Modena, Italy. It seemed that a “local” car manufacturer (the world-famous Maserati brand!) was in danger of losing an important part of her history—a unique collection of 17 historic Maseratis which had been sent to England, headed for the auction block. The people of Modena being quite proud of their heritage did not want to see this collection sold off. But what was to be done? In a last-minute effort, the owner of Hombre Farm, Umberto Panini, made the decision to purchase the collection outright from the seller (Alejandro DeTomaso) and return the cars to Modena to be housed in a permanent museum built previously on the farm property and dedicated to the memory of his recently passed brother Giuseppe, who during his life was a well-known patron of the city of Modena. In 1998 this famous car collection at Hombre Farm became the reason for the first meeting of Seymour G. Pond (head of The Maserati Club in the U.S.) and Matteo Panini (son of Umberto Panini and manager of Hombre Farm). After seeing the fabulous Panini Museo for the first time the following conversation ensued:
SP: “So, what are you making on this farm?”
MP: “Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.”
SP: “Oh really?! You know in New York I’m eating about a pound of this type of cheese a week! I would love to try yours.“
MP: “Easily done. Let’s go to the warehouse.”
A few minutes later inside the Hombre cheese facility shards of classic Reggiano were being consumed.
SP: “Wow..I think this may be the best Reggiano I ever tasted!”
MP: “Thank you. Here are some samples to bring back to NY.”
And so I returned to New York with my precious pieces, enjoyed them in due course, and thought about the whole experience. Trying to be objective, I considered how being on vacation in Italy might’ve had some bearing on my culinary judgment. Yet after I ran out of the Hombre Parmigiano and purchased more of the other brands available in New York, I couldn’t help but think I was now missing something in flavor.
LATER Over the course of the next two years Matteo & I became better friends and the next time I visited the farm I went with an empty suitcase. This time I purchased 8 kilos of Hombre cheese before returning to the U.S. And this time when I returned I did some taste tests. “This really is the best Parmigiano I’ve ever tasted!” I thought. I began telling Matteo how he really needed to find a U.S. importer as I hadn’t had anything of this caliber here. I tried many different samples of Parmigiano-Reggiano from the NYC area gourmet shops, yet something always kept bringing me back to this special flavor I found in the Hombre cheese.
YOU NEED AN IMPORTER After Matteo realized I was becoming a major Hombre addict I think he also got tired of hearing me ask “When are you going to get an importer and bring this to the U.S.?!” because after awhile he starting retorting, “Why don’t you become the importer?!” Whoa. Hadn’t thought of that one! But after a while I did.I had always had a big love of Modenese cuisine and ingredients and wanted very much to be involved with a project for which I could be passionate. The company I owned previously had served me well for many years but I had no emotional connection to it other than trying to do a good job for my customers. So in the spirit of “you only live once” I sold my previous company and invested the proceeds in this new partnership with Matteo Panini. After the initial learning process I would now be able to bring this and other special culinary products to the U.S. Naturally the focus was foremost on Hombre, but I added a few additional specialty items to round out a very personal selection of artisinal culinary treats. We hope you agree!
Krista & Seymour at the NY debut of Bio-Hombre
