Longino&cardenal

What Longino&cardenal does

Longino & Cardenal Spa is an Italian gourmet food importer and distributor founded in 1988 and headquartered in Pogliano Milanese (Milan area). The company positions itself as a "food globetrotter," sourcing rare and premium ingredients — caviar, Sicilian red prawns, Japanese Wagyu, Spanish Rubia Gallega and Ibérico pork, Italian and French cheeses, truffles, molecular-cuisine ingredients — from artisanal producers worldwide, with a catalog spanning more than 100 categories and 4,000 products.

The business runs on a multi-channel, multi-geography e-commerce platform architecture. A dedicated B2B storefront (b2b.longino.it) serves professional chefs, restaurants, and hotels with account management and an agent network; a B2C storefront (shoplongino.it) targets Italian gourmet consumers with refrigerated home delivery; and a Hong Kong storefront (shoplongino.hk), operated by wholly-owned subsidiary Shoplongino Srl, serves the Asia Pacific market. Regional presence is also maintained in New York and Dubai. The platform layer is supplemented by La Cucina di Longino, a subscription-based video culinary-education platform featuring Michelin-starred chefs, and by Longino Digital Factory, an in-house digital innovation initiative.

Revenue is generated through unit-priced transactional sales across B2B and B2C channels (with tiered free-shipping thresholds of €450 B2B / €149 B2C in Italy and 800 HKD in Hong Kong), plus subscription revenue from La Cucina di Longino. Disclosed financials show FY2025 revenue of approximately $35.9M, down modestly from $37.5M in 2024 but above the $36.4M posted in 2023; EBITDA was $548K and net income remained negative, indicating the company is still in a growth-investment phase relative to current profitability.

Name

Longino&cardenal

Legal name

Longino & Cardenal Spa

Website

http://www.longino.it/en/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Longino & Cardenal is an Italian gourmet food importer-distributor (founded 1988) selling 4,000+ premium products from artisanal producers to professional chefs and restaurants via B2B e-commerce, and to gourmet consumers across Italy, New York, Dubai, and Hong Kong.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Food Distribution

NAICS

Specialty Food Retailers (4452), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Gourmet Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAI)

Keywords

• Gourmet food distribution
• Premium food importer
• Fine dining supply
• Specialty food wholesale
• Artisan food sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Milanese

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. B2B Food Service Sales: Sales of premium gourmet ingredients to professional chefs and restaurants through dedicated B2B e-commerce platform. Products span seafood, meat, cheese, and specialty ingredients sourced globally.
2. B2C E-commerce Sales: Direct sales of gourmet food products to individual consumers through consumer-facing e-commerce websites, including refrigerated delivery services.
3. Subscription Services: La Cucina di Longino subscription service offering video courses and culinary content from Michelin-starred chefs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Longino & Cardenal is a gourmet food importer and distributor that sources rare and premium ingredients from artisanal producers worldwide and resells them to professional chefs, fine dining restaurants, luxury hotels, and individual gourmet consumers. The company operates dedicated B2B (b2b.longino.it) and B2C (shoplongino.it, shoplongino.hk) e-commerce platforms spanning 100+ product categories with 4,000+ SKUs, complemented by refrigerated cold chain logistics and the La Cucina di Longino culinary video subscription.

Product overview

Longino & Cardenal is a gourmet food importer and distributor serving both B2B (chefs, restaurants, hotels) and B2C (private consumers) markets through multiple e-commerce platforms: b2b.longino.it for professional clients, shoplongino.it for Italian consumers, and shoplongino.hk for the Hong Kong market. The company operates as a 'food globetrotter,' sourcing rare and premium ingredients from artisanal producers worldwide. Its product portfolio spans over 100 categories with more than 4,000 carefully selected products including caviar, premium seafood (Sicilian red prawns, King Crab, lobster), specialty meats (Japanese Wagyu, Spanish Iberico, Fassona Piemontese), artisan cheeses (Italian and French), truffles, molecular cuisine ingredients, and gourmet pantry items. The ecosystem also includes La Cucina di Longino (video culinary education platform) and physical showroom locations. The company maintains a presence in Italy (Milan area headquarters), New York, Dubai, and Hong Kong.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Cucina di Longino: Video courses and insights from master chefs - educational content platform for culinary enthusiasts

Products and services

• B2B E-Commerce Platform (b2b.longino.it) Professional B2B e-commerce platform enabling chefs and restaurant operators to purchase gourmet ingredients online, with product catalog of 1,000+ premium products, account management, order tracking, and dedicated agent support.
• B2C E-Commerce Platform (shoplongino.it) Consumer-facing online store for Italian individual gourmet food purchases, offering same-day and next-day delivery options, refrigerated shipping, and access to premium products including caviar, Sicilian red prawns, and Wagyu beef.
• Hong Kong E-Commerce Platform (shoplongino.hk) International e-commerce platform serving the Hong Kong market with gourmet Italian and international food products, featuring localized HKD pricing and delivery across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and New Territories.
• La Cucina di Longino Video courses and culinary content platform featuring master chef tutorials and in-depth gastronomic explorations, offered on a subscription basis with new content published monthly.
• Catalogo 2026 (Annual Product Catalog) Annual digital PDF product catalog spanning over 100 categories with more than 4,000 carefully selected products, available in versions for B2B and consumer customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy source from the company
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BrolosminorOthersAustralian lobster supplier providing Brolos Australian Lobster from pristine waters for the premium seafood category.
• Lubimar PremiumminorOthersSpanish aquaculture partner providing premium sea bass and sea bream (Branzini e orate) from excellent aquaculture operations in Spain.
• Pardoo WagyuminorOthersAustralian Wagyu beef supplier providing premium marbled beef for grilling applications.
• ReietóminorOthersArtisanal producer partner featured on the B2B platform for premium specialty ingredients.
• Veta la PalmaminorOthersPremium aquaculture partner providing high-quality fish products from sustainable operations.
• Gourmand & GuiardminorOthersIberian pork producer providing premium products including low-temperature cooked Iberian pork tenderloin.
• NardinminorOthersCanned anchovies producer partner featured on the Hong Kong platform showcasing traditional preservation techniques.
• Luigi GuffantiminorOthersItalian cheese specialist providing burrata and other Italian dairy products including Gorgonzola and Parmigiano Reggiano Vacche Rosse.
• JordaminorOthersSpecialty ingredient producer providing innovative products like soy and wasabi crumble for culinary applications.
• La Cucina di LonginocoreOthersEducational platform featuring video courses and culinary content from Michelin-starred chefs; subscription service for chefs and food enthusiasts seeking professional development.
• Don GamberominorOthersSicilian seafood specialist providing premium red prawns (Gambero Rosso di Mazara del Vallo) and related seafood products.
• BlázquezminorOthersSpanish Iberian pork producer providing premium Iberian pork products including Ibérico pork ribs raised in Andalusia and Castile.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Baldor Specialty Foods: US-based specialty food importer and distributor serving restaurants and gourmet consumers with rare and premium ingredients, including produce, meats, and cheeses. Comparable to Longino & Cardenal through its specialty sourcing model and restaurant-focused customer base.
• Buon Italia: Italian specialty food importer and retailer operating in the US market, focused on premium Italian artisanal products. Directly comparable to Longino's Italian-import, gourmet-focused model with similar transatlantic reach into the fine dining segment.
• Chefs' Warehouse: US-listed specialty food distributor serving Michelin-starred and fine dining restaurants with premium ingredients including seafood, meats, and pantry items. Closest direct peer to Longino & Cardenal given shared B2B chef-focused model, specialty sourcing strategy, and premium positioning.
• Ideal Food Distributors / Sid Wainer & Son: US specialty food distributor focused on premium and artisanal ingredients for restaurants and gourmet retailers. Comparable to Longino's curated specialty approach and chef customer base.

Emerging players

• Eataly: Italian-founded premium food marketplace and retail concept with locations globally, featuring artisanal products, restaurants, and educational content. Comparable to Longino through its premium Italian positioning and gourmet consumer/professional overlap, though Eataly's retail-restaurant hybrid differs from a pure distribution model.
• Pasta Garofalo: Italian premium pasta brand with global distribution to retail and food service channels. Comparable as an Italian premium food brand with international presence, though focused on a single category rather than Longino's broad specialty assortment.

Broad incumbents

• Sysco Corporation: Largest US broadline food distributor serving restaurants and food service operators with full-line offerings including specialty items. Relevant as a benchmark for the broadline foodservice distribution industry and a competitor for fine dining wallet share, though vastly larger and not specialty-focused.
• US Foods: Major US broadline food distributor serving restaurants and food service with full assortments plus a growing specialty portfolio. Comparable as an industry incumbent whose specialty segment competes for the same chef customers Longino serves, though at much greater scale.
• Metro AG / METRO Cash & Carry: European-headquartered cash & carry and wholesale operator serving hospitality and food service businesses across multiple countries. Comparable to Longino's B2B food service model and multi-country reach, though broader assortment and lower specialty focus.

Regional players

• Igloo Foods (formerly Partridges): UK-based specialty food distributor serving restaurants with premium and gourmet ingredients, particularly focused on Italian imports. Comparable business model to Longino's chef-focused specialty distribution, though geographically UK-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/longinocardenal
• Facebookfacebook.com/longinoandcardenal/?locale=it_IT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/longino&cardenal
• Instagraminstagram.com/longinocardenal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Longino&cardenal