Our Story

Behind New Zealand's Largest Mediterranean Food Importer

Sharing our traditions, our love of wholesome food, and our passion for life itself.

In the 1950s, Antonio Cuccurullo from Massa Lubrense, like many others from the south of Italy, journeyed to New Zealand and settled in Island Bay, Wellington. He later married Teresa Ruocco from the Isle of Capri, Italy.

Antonio found his niche in the seafood industry, running Wellington Fisheries in Cuba Street for 42 years until his retirement in 1990. His sons, Joe and Gino took over the business but closed the shop in 1994 and moved to a processing and distribution facility in the industrial area of Rongotai.

With the increase in awareness and demand for the Mediterranean diet, they began importing the food they had grown up with but took for granted, like pasta, olives, olive oil, and tomato-based products.

Fast forward to 2026, Mediterranean Foods has warehousing in Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch with a work force of 40, supplying over 600 Food Business's all over New Zealand on a monthly basis. Our goal is to provide a high level of service delivering premium and everyday Mediterranean Foods to our business partners all over New Zealand.

In recent years sales connections have developed into Fiji & Tonga with new business developing into China and Australia. 

Travelling overseas each year to source new products, Joe and Gino take pride in bringing back selections of diverse and amazing products, which are necessary for an authentic Mediterranean taste.

Our Timeline

1990

Mediterranean Foods starts life as Wellington Fisheries. Gino & Joe Cuccurullo take over a Fish shop in Cuba St, Wellington operated by their father.

1994

Move to a Fish Processing facility in Rongotai, Wellington.

1996

Purchase a mixed pallet of imported Italian products from an importer in Christchurch, to add to the offer already being sold to the Food Service business in Wellington.

1999

Relocate the business to Newtown, Wellington. Change the offer to Food Service from mostly Seafood and a few imported products to mostly imported products. Develop a retail presence in Newtown called Mediterranean Food Warehouse.

2002

Develop one of the first Wood-fired Pizza business in Wellington and continue to grow the retail and wholesale business from Newtown.

2016

SPLIT RETAIL FROM WHOLESALE
Refit the Retail business at Newtown and relocate the wholesale business to Landfill Rd. La Pizzeria Ltd Trading as Mediterranean Foods is the Retail/Trattoria business.
Mediterranean Foods Wgtn Ltd now
begins developing a focused import and distribution business.

2016-2023

FOCUS ON WHOLESALE
By now Gino & Joe focus on building in a short space of time one of New Zealand’s leading importing and distribution business of food from the Mediterranean.

2023-Today

FOCUS ON WHOLESALE
Retail business sold to concentrate 100% on Importing and Distributing
Business continues to grow with 15% year on year growth
New purpose-built Warehouse opening in Christchurch in April 2026