Don’t want to go back into the system.
Italian Passion for Food and Design Invades Swedish Kitchens
Updated: August 4, 2025, 00:53 Published: April 11, 2025, 08:47
Swedes have a strong love for Italy and Italian cuisine, especially when it comes to delicacies from the Emilia-Romagna province. This region has also shaped Smeg – which has carried its legacy of innovation and design into today’s and tomorrow’s kitchens.
In fierce competition, Emilia-Romagna is Italy’s largest gastronomic region. It boasts around forty traditional products – including Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, and balsamic vinegar from Modena – protected by certifications that verify their origin and authenticity. Almost at the northernmost part of the region, in the small town of Guastalla, is Smeg’s headquarters.
Vittorio Bertazzoni, belonging to the third generation of the owning family, sees Smeg’s emergence in this environment as anything but a coincidence. Nearby are cities like Parma, known for parmesan cheese, parma ham, and tortellini.
“Our presence here is no coincidence. My parents and grandparents have their roots in this province, and it is a central part of our identity. It is also here that we produce our own artisanal Parmigiano Reggiano on the family farm, Montecoppe.”
Thoughtful Design, Advanced Technology
From its start in 1948, the family-owned company has grown and developed into one of the world’s largest in kitchen products and household appliances for daily use. The extensive product lines are a combination of design, performance, and attention to detail that reflects the Italian heritage. A large part of the manufacturing still takes place in Italy, ensuring that each product lives up to the high standard.
One of the smaller kitchen products, the characteristic citrus juicer, is a simple yet strong tribute to Italian ingredients. Italy has a long tradition of citrus cultivation, especially in the southern parts of the country, where the climate is perfect for these fruits. Here, juicy and flavorful Arancia and Arancia Rossa, Clementina, Pompelmo, Mandarino are grown – or in English: oranges and blood oranges, clementines, grapefruit, and mandarins. The citrus juicer is developed to handle both large and small citrus fruits and to extract every last drop of freshly squeezed juice and bring in a sliver of the Mediterranean sun.
Even the larger appliances, such as hobs, ovens, and cookers, are created to make cooking a pleasurable experience. Both technical details and unique design contribute to a premium experience. The choices are many and important. With series such as Classic, Colonial, Linea, Portofino, and Victoria, Smeg appliances fit into most types of kitchen environments and are available in a wide selection of sizes, colors, and functions.
For the truly culinary savvy, there are also multifunctional products such as Blast Chillers, which not only effectively cool down ingredients and dishes but also help to create the perfect sourdough or cook food at low temperatures. Smeg also has a range of wine coolers, for everything from 21 to 198 bottles, as well as sommelier drawers in wood for storing essential wine accessories.
Whether it’s about creating the perfect pasta dish, storing wine under optimal conditions, or investing in a kitchen with technically advanced products, Smeg’s products reflect the Italian heritage – where passion, innovation, quality, and design go hand in hand.
This article was produced by Brand Studio in collaboration with Smeg.
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