Italian Pantry Essentials: Napolina and Maretti Explained
You don't need a trip to Italy for a proper Italian-style dinner — just a well-stocked pantry. Here's what to keep on hand, the story behind the brands, and how to actually use them.
Napolina — pasta and tomatoes done properly
Napolina has been bringing Italian-style staples to British kitchens since 1957, when it launched as a UK brand dedicated entirely to making Italian ingredients accessible outside Italy — decades before \"Mediterranean cooking\" became a supermarket aisle in its own right. It's now the brand most UK households reach for when a recipe calls for good pasta or tinned tomatoes, and the quality has stayed remarkably consistent for over 60 years.
We stock the everyday shapes — Spaghetti, Penne Rigate — plus the Peeled Plum Tomatoes and flavoured Tomato Purées (with herbs & garlic) that turn a five-minute sauce into something worth cooking for. The Five Bean Salad is the brand's other quiet staple — tinned, ready to eat cold, and an easy way to bulk out a lunch.
Maretti — bruschette crackers with an Italian accent
Maretti's bruschette-style crackers are a step up from the usual crisp bowl — crunchy, olive-oil based, and flavoured like an antipasto board (roasted garlic, tomato & oregano, pizza, sour cream & onion). They're baked, not fried, which is part of why they hold up so well when loaded with toppings without going soggy — built for dipping and piling things on top, not eating plain.
What's the difference between Napolina's plain and flavoured tomato purées?
The plain purée is concentrated tomato only, meant to be seasoned yourself — the herbs & garlic and chilli & garlic versions have the seasoning built in, so they're better for a genuinely fast weeknight sauce with fewer ingredients to buy.
Are Maretti crackers good for more than bruschetta toppings?
Yes — they hold up well as a cheeseboard cracker or crumbled over soup, since they're sturdier than a standard water biscuit.