  
It was 1905: at Portomaggiore, to the south of Ferrara, Gennaro Fabbri(born in 1860) took over an old drug store complete with cellar, and began producing the first liqueurs, fruit "marena" and syrups. The “Premiata Distilleria Liquori G. Fabbri”, what is now Fabbri 1905, was open for business. In the back room of the drug store at Portomaggiore, Gennaro Fabbri began producing liqueurs and cordials, attractively named to reflect the spirit of the times: “Primo Maggio” and “Amaro Carducci” (which won a Nobel Prize in 1906). It was the start of an “adventure” that would continue until the dawn of the Third Millennium.
«Not even my great-grandfather, with his fertile imagination and far-sightedness, could have predicted the future development of the “Premiata distilleria liquori G.Fabbri»: says Nicola. Along with his brother Umberto and his cousins Andrea and Paolo, all company directors on an equal footing, he now shares responsibility for a company renowned worldwide for having created the unmistakeable Amarena Fabbri. A story that has taken the company to its first Centenary in 2005.
The Premiata Distilleria founded by Gennaro Fabbri grew, reaping success. The first two liqueurs, immediate hits with the public, were followed by the launch of “Virov”, a zabaglione liqueur flavoured with Marsala. Then came a special cognac, aged in Slovenian oak casks, known as the celebrated “Gran Senior Fabbri”.
during the post-war era. The time had come to expand both the market and production. The decision to head for Bologna as a crucial one. At the start of the 20th century, the city experienced a period of great activity and industrial recovery, along with a general improvement in living standards. It was here that Gennaro Fabbri transferred his headquarters, followed by the production site in 1924, with the purchase of a building in what was then the district of Borgo Panigale. Complete with land and warehouses, this is still the company's head office even today.
So began the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic syrups,first and foremost mint and grenadine. During the same period, Fabbri's most famous product made its début: amarena,inspired by a recipe for "marena con frutto" (fruit marena), by Gennaro's wife Rachele.The amarena jar with its unmistakeable blue and white decorations was also created at this time. Gennaro commissioned the jar from Gatti, the ceramic artist based in Faenza, as an affectionate gift for his wife to thank her for inventing this new product. It immediately became a feature on bar counters the length and breadth of Italy. At that time, nobody could have foreseen that the jar would lead to Fabbri becoming a household name all over the world.
Fabbri1905 is now led by the founder's great-grandsons, Andrea, Nicola, Paolo and Umberto Fabbri. It is universally renowned for having "invented" amarena and fruit syrups but in actual fact it is busy consolidating the reputation of the Italian art of confectionery, in all its forms, throughout the world.
Fabbri's production boasts around 1,200 different products, all made at its own factories, strictly controlled by the R&D department. There are 17 product lines and 23 packaging lines, dedicated to 5 channels: fast-moving, consumer products, ho.re.ca (which means all forms of distribution in the hospitality sector), artisan ice-cream parlours, artisan confectioners, and the food industry.
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