Fam. Berardino Clemente

Everything started in Apulia, on the Gargano headland, over one hundred years ago, and to understand this history it is necessary to know the introduction. In the Southern Italy, according to the tradition, the first born takes the name of his grandfather, in order to continue the family name tradition.
In the end of 1800, Bernardino Clemente (the great-grandfather) begun to deal in almonds and oil, that his son Michele (the grandfather) and Michele’s son, Bernardino (the father), inherited and expanded with a renew interest and experience, gained in three generations. In the Land of the oil, the skill and the ability of Bernardino were renowned, and lots of important firms of Northern Italy, specialized in the packing of olive oil, needed Bernardino’s experience to select and buy the Apulian product.

 

Bernardino, maybe because he was father of six children, or because he was ambitious and open-minded, understood that the oil had to be emphasized from its land and that it could be directly packed in Apulia. So, he started his battling activity and he taught all that he knew about the oil, to his children, Michele and Antonello, who followed him everywhere, got into the passion that all along characterized the whole family.

Clemente Michele

A good teacher teaches well, and his teaching deeply took the children’s soul, born and grown breathing the oil smell. In the1893, at the age of 60, Bernardino discovered to suffer from an incurable disease. In six months he died, leaving his wife Elena, and his six children. His oldest daughter, Eleonora, and the forth child, Marisina, became teachers.

His children were alone both to manage their private life and a small but thriving business. In spite of an unfillable gap, lasting since 25 years, Michele (24 years), helped by Antonello (20), decides that the tradition has to go on. They roll up their sleeves, begin the business relations again with the producers, the oil presses and with the firms of Northern Italy, notwithstanding their young age, they win the prejudices of the veterans of this job, showing ability and maturity, worthy of their father. Few years later, also the third-born Carla decides to join his brothers, looking after the administrative sector. Soon, the initiative and the courage of the youth brothers lead them to proceed, and they decide to expand their business.

Clemente Berardino

In twenty years the little trade develops and it becomes a leader firm in the sector, well-advanced, certified and ready to conquer both the Italian and the international market.

The confusion, bred by the manipulation and by imitations put in the market, drives the consumers to look for more transparency and clearness of the product to buy. And how does give the confidence to consumers but managing all the phases of the production, becoming a weaving factory? From the huge and uncontaminated olive groves to the certified olive-press, ending with the bottling, with modern and technological lines of packing, Clemente brothers change their firm and close the circle. Nothing escapes from rigorous controls made by the firm itself o guarantee the origin and the genuineness of a tradition that evolves and improves itself.

Michele, Antonello, Carla e Ilenia Clemente

Since ten years, I am here too, Ilenia, the last-born. I look after the foreign trade and I like to work with my brothers. Our family is always united, in every moment of joy or difficulty, that they are not few. Each victory and each goal are devoted to our father, who follows and lead us with his love. And to our mother who has been strong and brave, who taught us the meaning of love and sacrifice. Our children bear the name of their grandparents and it seems they will be the fifth generation. For now, more than 100 years and fourth generations to obtain a perfect product, the Italian and Apulia Oil par excellence, Clemente Oil.

I think it is enough for the moment.