The Daniele story begins with two Croatian refugees, Stefano Dukcevich and his wife, Carolina. After being dispossessed of everything they owned by Yugoslavia's communist party at the end of World War II, Stefano and Carolina fled to Trieste, Italy, the closest "free" town they could reach.
From that moment, their new life began. Through a fellow refugee from Croatia, Stefano and Carolina got into the meat business. Carolina would spend her days making pork sausages in a small work space, and Stefano would pack them on his bicycle and sell them to local restaurants.
Thanks to the economic miracle that was lifting all of Western Europe in the 1940s and 1950s - and thanks to Carolina's tireless work and Stefano's creativity - the business grew.
Soon, Stefano and Carolina had built one of the most successful food businesses in the region.
Inheriting his parents' enterprising spirit and work ethic, Vlado Dukcevich, Stefano and Carolina's youngest son, joined the company. After years of studying the craft in Germany and Parma, Vlado was destined for great things in the family firm. Except for one problem. He was restless. Vlado wanted bigger challenges, and set his sights on new horizons. So in 1977 he moved his family to Pascoag, Rhode Island, to open an Italian specialty meats business in the United States.
Daniele now sells to some of the finest delis and supermarkets throughout the country. Vlado's two sons, Stefano and Davide, joined the company in recent years, ensuring that future generations will be treated to the family's delicious products.