History

How Progresso got its start

Progresso is now known across the U.S. for its savory soups, but did you know that the business dates back to the late 1800s in Italy?

progresso

The flavors of home

Giuseppe Uddo was just nine years old when he began selling olives and cheeses from a horse-drawn cart in Sicilian villages.

Uddo immigrated to America in 1907 and quickly discovered there was no way to get the tasty Italian ingredients he grew up with. Within a few years, he started a small business importing tomato paste and olives, bringing some of his favorite flavors to his new home in New Orleans. He grew the business to include a warehouse and a small grocery in the French Quarter.