Restaurant owner Arran Campolucci-Bordi is throwing his business experience behind a new project
The owner of Casa Italia has announced a new business venture which he hopes will see the same success as his city centre restaurant. The Stanley Street Italian restaurant is a Liverpool institution, with diners queuing down the street for a table at peak times.
And now owner Arran Campolucci-Bordi is throwing his business experience behind a new project as he launches his own brand of limoncello. Santa Maria Limoncello will be sold in small batches, with the first batch selling out in just 48 hours. A second batch is set to dispatch next week.
Arran is so excited by his new business venture that he is planning to open a dedicated Santa Maria bar inside the iconic Casa Italia venue in Liverpool city centre. The new bar will showcase signature drinks made using Santa Maria products, and offer customers ‘Italian-inspired experiences’.
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Santa Maria’s products are crafted using lemons imported directly from the Amalfi Coast, known for their flavour and aroma. Every bottle is produced in Liverpool under the guidance of Giovanni Pillitteri, an artisan whose family mastered the art of limoncello-making over generations.
The Santa Maria bottles are made from fluted glass in Verona, Italy, and are completely recyclable. Each order also includes a beeswax candle, allowing customers to turn their empty bottles into candle holders. The bottles are available to buy directly from Casa Italia in Liverpool city centre.
Casa Italia owner Arran told the ECHO: “Our mission is to redefine the UK limoncello market by setting a new standard for quality at an affordable price. Too often, limoncello is misrepresented by low-quality cheaper products that aren’t enjoyable to drink neat. We want to change people’s perception and show them what an exceptional limoncello actually tastes like.”
The alcohol brand currently offers two products – the original limoncello, and a ‘crema di limoncello’ which is creamier and has a vanilla essence. Arran is even applying for a Best Taste Award in 2025, to try and establish his place in the premium liqueur market.