Founded by serial food entrepreneur, Joe Faro, Tuscan Brands is the culmination of two generations of Italian food artisans. Starting out at his parent’s corner bakery as a child, it was at the University of New Hampshire where Joe’s ambition and original food enterprise was born.
Over the next 18 years, Joseph’s Gourmet Pasta and Sauces grew from a college business plan to the nation’s largest manufacturer of specialty pasta & sauces. Joseph’s sauces ultimately led the sale of the company to Buitoni, a division of Nestle’ Prepared Foods in 2006.
Joe’s passion for artisan Italian cuisine led him to the next chapter of this food journey, the creation of Tuscan Brands. He opened Tuscan Kitchen in Salem, NH in 2010. The initial restaurant concept then expanded throughout New England after Tuscan Kitchen’s great success. Joe then expanded his repertoire with the openings of 2 Tuscan Markets, Toscana Italian Chophouse & Wine Bar, Tuscan Sea Grill, and the Artisan Chef Catering Company.
In 2016, Tuscan Brands acquired a 170 acre property formally known as Rockingham Park in Salem, NH. Joe’s vision was to transform the area into a 3.8M SF mixed use super regional destination called Tuscan Village. The development is currently underway and has provided the town of Salem with a walkable downtown destination. Residents & visitors of Tuscan Village can experience a place where they can live, work, stay & play.
The Tuscan Brands team is currently making major investments in its newly acquired manufacturing facility Artisan Chef Manufacturing Co. in Lawrence, MA. The facility will produce restaurant quality foods to be sold in major grocery & package stores all over U.S.
In 2024, Faro came full circle by acquiring Buitoni, the iconic Italian pasta brand he once sold his first company to. Under his leadership, Buitoni is now part of The Artisan Chef Manufacturing Company, with a renewed focus on authentic recipes, premium ingredients, and U.S.-based production spanning facilities in Massachusetts and Virginia.
Together, these ventures reflect Faro’s lifelong passion for Italian cuisine, immersive hospitality, and bold entrepreneurship.