ALFONSO PELINO, descendant of Bernardino Pelino, who had founded the Company in 1783, he was born in Introdacqua (5 km. from Sulmona) on 28th October 1858. He inherited the financial means and the spirit of initiative of his father, a trader and entrepreneur: two attributes that had made him one of the most important and active businessmen of Central Italy (he operated as far as Rome since 1859). When Alfonso reached Sulmona, in 1882, he was already an expert and was already industrially active. Here he implanted, in the following year, a “confetti” factory and shop, on the corner between Piazza Ovidio and Piazza Grande (Piazza Garibaldi). The Milanese “Journal of Confectioners”, on 15the July 1921 wrote on its first page columns: “ALFONSO PELINO’s majestic and almost gigantic figure, gives this man extraordinary importance…To a prodigious exterior life he combined an interior activity made of noble purposes and dazzling mirages, and thus he felt the need to expand his company. He built, in the very centre of Sulmona, a plant for the production of “confetti”, which was later enlarged to the extent it became the largest and most productive factory in Sulmona. His ascent in the industrial field never ceased, as in 1905 he built, in the whereabouts of the railway station of Sulmona-Introacqua, another vast factory, and, above the “ confetti”, he opened a “Factory of Effervescent Citrate”, which, thanks to a special machine, invented and patented by his son Mario, worthy follower of the paternal traditions, gave him the opportunity to be awarded some of the most highly recognised acknowledgments in several National and International expositions where he presented his creations, which are now famous worldwide.”
He was advisor of the Chamber of Commerce of L’Aquila and of the “School of Arts and Crafts” in Sulmona.
He contributed greatly also to the organisation of the National Cycling convention, that was held in Sulmona on 14th July 1907. He died on May 31st 1921, leaving the shop in Corso Ovidio to his son Achille, another shop in the same street to is son Riccardo, and the Factory in Via Stazione in Introacqua to is son Mario.