April '12 Luncheon -- Tony Magnano '01

Tony Magnano '01 of The Napoleon Company

This family company has a rich history reaching back more than 100 years ago, when Antonio Magnano made a promise to offer the finest ingredients available.  Antonio Magnano had come to America when he was a youthful 24 years old.  Following the death of his father, Stefano, Antonio emigrated from Italy in order to support his mother (Maddalena) and brothers and sisters. His family lived in Pra, a small town outside of Genoa. Antonio came to Seattle in 1903 and opened A. Magnano & Sons, a wholesale food business, on First Avenue. Subsequently he moved to Western Avenue, and then expanded again in 1923 when he relocated onto two floors in the Pacific Marine Supply Building.

In 1960, Antonio’s three sons (Angelo, Marco, and Antonio) sold 51% of A. Magnano & Sons and started "The Napoleon Co." -- a food brokerage/import company. The name "Napoleon" comes from their private label, Napoleon.  The company expanded it its operations and began selling its own private-label products including vinegar, olive oil, lives, canned seafood, artichokes, pickled and grilled vegetables, and more. In 1970-1971, Joe (son of Angelo) and Milo (son of Marco) joined the company. Several next-generation family members work for the company today. Susan Magnano Salazar first entered the company in 1985. Amy Smith Kirtland, first of the fourth generation, joined the company in 1994.  Then fourth generation Milo Jr. Magnano joined in 2002 and Tony Magnano in 2007. 


Several graduates from Tony's era attended the luncheon to cheer him on. 

Front: Tony Maganano '01, Kelly Kolstad '01, Imants Holmquist '02,
Back row:  Jeremy Dodd '02 and Chris Brown '02

In 2010, Seattle Business magazine named The Napoleon Co. the winner of the first annual Washington Family Business Award for Small Companies.