Our journey began in Fossano in 1952, when a butcher walked into Michele Fruttero’s woodworking shop and asked him to make a wooden butcher block for his store Word spread quickly among local butchers, and Michele found himself on an unexpected path. Thanks to his love for new challenges, he decided to follow this path and went on to found Mej – Il Ceppo Fruttero.
From a furniture maker, Michele became the owner of a company specializing in some of the finest wooden butcher blocks and cutting boards in the world.
The exceptional quality of our products, combined with a deep connection to our homeland, inspired our name: Mej, a term from the Piedmontese dialect that stands for ‘the best‘.
From the very beginning, our already high-quality products kept improving, thanks to the refinement of the ANIMA patent. Along with Michele’s dedication and craftsmanship, this took the company to new heights.
Starting from Fossano, our butcher blocks reached Cuneo, Turin, then Genoa and the entire Ligurian region. Thanks to growing connections, word of mouth, and new opportunities, Mej – Il Ceppo Fruttero soon arrived at trade fairs in Milan. It was in the 1970s that the company took a decisive leap, achieving nationwide distribution.
But the journey didn’t stop there. With new contacts and collaborations, the company began to expand beyond national borders, reaching markets in Europe and Asia. What once was a small woodworking shop in Fossano has now become a benchmark for professionals and businesses worldwide.
Today, Michele’s daughter, Cristina Fruttero, proudly leads Mej – Il Ceppo Fruttero, continuing the work started by her father. Much has changed, products have evolved, markets have expanded, but some things remain the same: our passion for wood, our pursuit of excellence, and our respect for the roots from which it all grew.
Contact us to learn more about our butcher blocks, cutting boards, and our history.
