The family tradition that connects Alden
It is said that tradition connects the past and the present, and gives guidelines for the future. Passing the tradition from generation to generation is of great importance in order to preserve the authenticity of a custom, story or even a particular product. Tradition is therefore extremely important for the company Alden, which through its products seeks to respect and preserve the tradition of cod production. This company has a very long history dating back to Austria-Hungary. The history of the company began with the Marzari family, who came to Istria from a small town Trambacche near Padua and who owned the building where today’s cod production plant is located. In the same building, the Banko family opened the famous restaurant “9. Septembar “where they prepares cod for their guests. Petar Banko, the current leader in cod production in Croatia and the son of an experienced caterer, went to Germany in the early 1970s for training. There he gained knowledge of running restaurants and experience in cooking and gastronomy, which is now woven into all Alden products. After returning from Germany, the Banko family opened the first retail store in Poreč, where, among other delicacies, they also prepared white cod. With its traditional and original recipe, the Banko family cod quickly won over the residents of Istria and thus took a significant place in the gastronomic offer of the region. Apart from the fact that Alden products can be found on the shelves of the most famous Croatian retail stores in Istria, Kvarner, Dalmatia and Zagreb, the Banko family has expanded their business to the north of Italy, where they have easily launched their products, although the competition is extremely high. Based on the tradition of cod preparation, Petar Banko created a serious family business in which his daughter Danijela Banko Štokovac and a son Petar Banko joined. With “cod in the genes”, Alden’s tradition began with one family, and continues with another.