Negroni

Negroni is an Italian cured-meat brand known for salami and sliced meats in trays. Pietro Negroni founded it in Cremona in 1907; today the brand belongs to the Veronesi group, and the registered office is at San Martino Buon Albergo near Verona. The range runs from salami to sliced meats, speck, bresaola, coppa and ham.

The history, by the company's account: in 1907 Pietro Negroni signs his salami by hand in red ink; in 1918 the star becomes the brand's emblem; in 1931, at the international fair in Nice, Paolo Negroni creates Negronetto, a small Cremona-style salami that could be sliced for tasting.

In the range: Salame Milano, Napoli, Ungherese, Strolghino, Salame Cremona and Salamino italiano alla cacciatora (named on the brand's site), and among the sliced meats Prosciutto di Parma, Prosciutto di San Daniele, Bresaola, Speck and coppa. Consortium lists carry Parma and San Daniele ham under the name Agricola Tre Valli. Among the producer's lines is Negronetto. Cooked ham and mortadella are also made, but they are cooked products.

Unlike Citterio or Rovagnati, Negroni leans on the Cremona salami tradition and the star emblem; its owner is the large Veronesi group rather than the founding family.

On the shelf, look for the star logo and the red cursive «Negroni»; sliced meats come in trays with blue packaging, and Negronetto is the small stick format. They sit at the delicatessen section of supermarkets.