History of Esselunga History of the Caprotti and Venosta families

Giorgina Venosta and Bernardo Caprotti’s friends: Giulia Maria Crespi, Indro Montanelli, Marisa Spaini Rivolta

If Mario and Vittorio Crespi were partners of my father Bernardo and Uncle Guido in the foundation of Esselunga, their niece Giulia Maria, for some fundamental years in the management of ‘Corriere della Sera’ and later founder of FAI-Fondo Ambiente Italiano and agricultural entrepreneur, was a friend of Bernardo’s ex-wife, my mother Giorgina…

History of Esselunga History of Italy

Caprotti and supermarkets: James Hugh Angleton, father of James Jesus, 1960s

Among the most important art collectors who were also Brunelli’s clients in those years was James Hugh Angleton, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy. Brunelli told me that Angleton had revealed to him Nelson Rockefeller’s idea of studying the opening of a chain of supermarkets in Italy already during the exhibition on the “Settecento Veneziano” curated by Brunelli himself, and being the contact person for Rockefeller and his company IBEC in Italy he was sounding out the terrain in search of local partners willing to join the American magnate in the venture.

Food and Retail History History of Esselunga History of Italy History of the Caprotti and Venosta families Local History

The Caprotti family, the birth of Esselunga and US counter-espionage: James Hugh and James Angleton

Film buffs who have seen Robert De Niro’s 2006 film The Good Shepherd – The Shadow of Power may know that the main character, played by Matt Damon, is inspired by James James Angleton, one of the most legendary and controversial figures in American intelligence. However, the figure of James Hugh [Angleton], the father, is also of extreme interest …