Company

The Story of AFcoltellerie: from Itinerant Knife Grinder to International Marketplace

The mission of AFcoltellerie

What began as the work of an itinerant knife grinder has today become an international marketplace for professional cooking and pastry. The mission, however, remains unchanged: to provide quality tools, paired with technical expertise and personalized consulting, helping professionals and enthusiasts express their creativity at its best.

An ancient craft renewed

The story of AFcoltellerie began in 1994, in Emilia-Romagna, when Antonio Fabbri, drawing on technical expertise and family tradition, decided to reinvent the trade of the knife grinder.

On board a specially equipped Ape Piaggio, he traveled through the municipal markets of Bologna’s province, sharpening knives and blades for restaurants, butcher shops, and families. Alongside him, his wife Cristina Passarotto helped transform this ancient trade into an innovative entrepreneurial project, capable of blending craftsmanship, modern vision, and pioneering spirit.

From physical store to e-commerce

In October 2000, encouraged by customer trust, Antonio and Cristina opened a store in Maccaretolo (San Pietro in Casale, BO), where knife sharpening was joined by the sale of professional knives and kitchen tools. Just one year later, in 2001, www.afcoltellerie.com was launched: one of the first Italian e-commerce websites specialized in professional cutlery and equipment for cooking and pastry. This decisive step opened the doors to international markets and placed AFcoltellerie among the pioneers of the digital sector. For over 25 years, we have supported chefs, butchers, and pastry chefs worldwide, building unique expertise through constant consulting and dialogue with diverse gastronomic cultures. From refined Japanese cutting techniques, to French pastry schools, up to the innovative kitchens of Northern Europe, we have successfully blended tradition and innovation, providing tailored solutions for every professional.

An international marketplace

Today, AFcoltellerie is a global marketplace, with active sales in over 200 countries. Our mission is not only to supply tools, but also to be a technical partner and consultant for those working daily in kitchens, pastry shops, gastronomic laboratories, butcher shops, restaurants, and even in the outfitting of luxury yachts. The catalog includes the most prestigious brands of knives, kitchen utensils, equipment, and professional clothing. A central role is dedicated to pastry, which over the years has become one of our strongest and most distinctive sectors.

AFcoltellerie, the mission for sustainability

We believe that quality is not only about the products we offer, but also about the way we operate every day. Our mission is to combine excellence and responsibility, creating value not only for our customers but also for the environment around us.

Our values:

• Sustainability: we choose packaging made of recycled and recyclable cardboard and paper, reducing environmental impact and promoting a virtuous cycle of resource reuse, so that every shipment can contribute to a greener future.
• Responsibility: we rely on DHL as our carrier through the GoGreen Plus program — a trustworthy partner with whom we share the commitment to make sustainable choices. Shipments with the DHL GoGreen Plus service travel using sustainable aviation fuel, which, when mixed with conventional fuel, reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 80%.
• Reliability: thanks to careful management and constant quality control, our return rate remains as low as 0.05%, a sign of our customers’ trust and satisfaction.

With these principles, AFcoltellerie is committed to offering not only high-end professional tools for chefs and pastry chefs, but also a business model based on respect, awareness, and innovation.

Pastry: the creative heart of AFcoltellerie

Our range for professional pastry is among the most extensive and complete on the market: silicone and polycarbonate molds, siphons, spatulas, thermometers, chocolate processing tools, and decoration instruments. We collaborate with leading brands such as Pavoni, Silikomart, Martellato – Italian excellences recognized worldwide – and international names like Schneider GmbH. Thanks to this selection, AFcoltellerie is today a reference point for pastry schools, master artisans, and laboratories seeking technical precision and creative freedom.

Professional knives

Cutlery remains the historic core of the company. We offer knives in steel, ceramic, titanium, and damascus, selecting the most renowned brands: Global, Kai, Kyocera, Victorinox, Dick, Wüsthof, Due Cigni Coltellerie, Sanelli Ambrogio, Swibo, Kasumi, Yaxell, Ryda, Furi, Masahiro, Tahamagane.

Professional clothing

For chefs and kitchen brigades we provide technical and functional clothing, with special focus on Ego Chef, synonymous with practicality and style.

Kitchen and table tools

Completing our offer are the finest international brands of professional equipment and utensils: Swiss Diamond, Bamix, Sambonet Paderno, Microplane, Louis Tellier, De Buyer, Hendi, Kaufgut.

Consulting and quality

Every product on afcoltellerie.com is purchased directly from selected producers and distributors, with a focus on European, Japanese, and American companies, always attentive to innovation and quality.

Our catalog includes:
– Complete or modular knife cases
– Pots in steel, iron, aluminum, copper, with diamond or ceramic coatings
– Graters, cutting boards, designer knife blocks
– Scissors, tongs, spatulas, mandolins
– Carving and decoration accessories
– Oil cruets, mills, dispensers, and sprayers
– Sharpening machines and tools
– …and much more.

Thanks to our long-standing expertise in sharpening, we offer not only tools and machines, but also specialized technical consulting, essential to maintain the highest performance of professional knives.

Tailored supplies

AFcoltellerie also supports clients in complex projects, offering customized supplies for:
– Restaurants and pastry shops
– Butcher shops and delis
– Cooking schools
– Luxury yacht and onboard kitchens

With afcoltellerie.com you can rely on fast and reliable customer service, before, during, and after your purchase.

Our physical store is open to the public:

• Monday to Thursday: 9–13 / 16–18 – Friday: 9–13
• Afternoon and Saturday by request
• For an appointment please call +39 51 811732