VinCenzo International
div. VVGI Corporation
Founded:
1988
Home Office:
Chicago, Illinois
President and CEO:
Keith Armato
a.k.a. The Big Vincenz
Partner Factories:
Shenzhen, China
Osaka, Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Seoul, Korea
London, England
Barcelona, Spain
Paris, France
Long before the eruption of Mt. Etna, there lived in Sicily an old man by the name of VinCenzo da Chiusa, or as we would know him, Vincent from the town of Chiusa. One day, VinCenzo learned that his great nephew was coming of age and that there would be a great celebration in the town of Sambuca. Though the journey to Sambuca was difficult, VinCenzo was a loving great uncle, and could not dream of missing such an important event, so he took his walking stick from the corner and set off for the two-day journey.

That night, VinCenzo settled in a field under the stars and rested for the second day of his journey. He awoke early and set out before dawn. By midday he was passing through a particularly arid region of Sicily, and the sun was unusually strong. VinCenzo searched as he walked, but was unable to find even the smallest pond or stream to quench his thirst. As the sun beat down on him, he weakened and soon was near death. He struggled with every step, but was determined to survive. Just when VinCenzo felt that he could go no further, he looked up and saw a farmhouse in a distant field. Gathering his last ounce of strength, he stumbled across the field.
As he approached the farmhouse, he noticed a man on the porch with a zucca in his lap. Zucca is the Sicilian word for a large gourd. This man had sliced off the top and scooped out the insides, much as we do with Halloween pumpkins. He was working with a sharp knife, carving an intricate pattern in the zucca. When VinCenzo reached the farmhouse, he called out to the man. "Kind sir, I am an old man close to death. I am on a journey to Sambuca to join in the celebration of my grand nephew's manhood, but I have no water. Can you spare a drink for me?" The man studied VinCenzo for a moment, and then handed him the zucca he had just finished carving, saying, "Take this zucca to my well, old man, and fill it with water and drink until you are full. Then, fill it again and take it with you so you will have water for the remainder of your journey." VinCenzo was grateful to the stranger and gave him this blessing: "May your fields forever bear fruit. May you and all your descendants prosper and forever live happily on God's earth."

VinCenzo arrived later that day in Sambuca. He joined in the celebration and lived many more years. He never forgot the man who gave him his life in the form of that large gourd. In fact, VinCenzo carried the gourd on his travels for the rest of his life. It became known as the Zucca di VinCenzo.

Legend has it that this zucca with its intricately carved design was the first decorative container, and was the founding of our family's connection with fine decorative packaging. We have named our company after VinCenzo to honor our heritage and this legend.