A Lifetime Tradition

Domenico Bruzzese literally grew up surrounded by high-quality Italian foods in Vancouver Canada. His father, Fortunato Bruzzese, born and raised in Mammola, Reggio Calabria (one of Italy’s most southern provinces), brought with him to Canada a love and respect for the foods that he left behind.

He first immigrated to Montreal in 1963 and in 1976 he moved to Vancouver with his young family. In 1977 he opened La Grotta Del Formaggio, a small Italian Deli filled with incredible products that could make anyone feel like they were standing in a store in Italy. The deli has been situated in the heart of Vancouver’s ‘Little Italy’ and remains there to this day (1791 Commercial Drive) supplying Vancouverites with high-quality foods from across the Mediterranean. It is here where Domenico also learned to appreciate food, seeing how the deli turned into a second home for him.

After high school Domenico went one step further and enrolled himself into cooking school, giving him the opportunity to acquire the formal knowledge about food needed to further himself in the industry. This in itself opened new doors and before he knew it he was on his way to continue his culinary studies in Italy. After culinary school, he worked at a few restaurants through out Vancouver but soon returned to work at his family’s store that he grew up in.

In 2005 Domenico, with the help of his father, expanded the small Commercial Drive store into a large specialty food wholesaler, now servicing Metro Vancouver and beyond. The business started by supplying high-end hotels and restaurants, as the demands for quality products grew, so did the company by expanding its network to large and independent retailers as well. La Grotta Del Formaggio wholesale is now an established distributor, importer and broker of local and imported culinary products.

Passion for food and culinary expertise run thick through Domenico and we hope to bring this passion to you.