Francesco Claudio Averna, former president of Averna, the company that produces the bitter liqueur that has been owned by the Campari group since 2014, died in Milan last night. The entrepreneur from Caltanissetta, 66, was hospitalized at the Istituto Tumori for an illness. Awarded in 2012 by the Quirinale with the honor of Commander of Merit of the Italian Republic, he had managed the company together with his cousin Francesco Rosario until the sale. He leaves behind his wife Francesca and daughter Alessandra. The funeral will be held next Monday in Caltanissetta. The success story of this world-famous bitter liqueur is recounted on the company's website. The secret recipe has been passed down from generation to generation and has become a classic Italian after-dinner drink. In 1868 the recipe was given as a gift by the monk Fra' Girolamo to the textile merchant Salvatore Averna, as a gesture of gratitude for his dedication to the local community. Salvatore began producing the amaro for his guests at Villa Xiboli, the family's summer residence. At the beginning of the 900th century the recipe and production passed to Salvatore's son, Francesco Averna, who began to promote the product at Italian fairs. In 1895 it received a gold medal with the symbol of the House of Savoy. And in 1912 Vittorio Emanuele III gave Averna the right to print the inscription "patent of the Royal House" on its bottle. In 58 Averna became a joint stock company, Fratelli Averna SPA. And in 2014 it was acquired by the Campari Group.
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