Our Company History
Since its formation in the early 1960’s, Zanetti & Company Ltd. has grown to become one of the UK’s foremost specialist stone flooring contractors. In 1919, Gioachino Zanetti, the father of one of the founders of the company came to England from Italy.
Gioachino’s father ran a large construction company in Buenos Aires, until 1900. After The Great War, Gioachino decided to travel in search of work and came to Bristol. He initially worked laying terrazzo floors and plied his trade throughout the UK, securing his place as the local terrazzo legend.
In the early 1950’s Gioachino worked for Marble Flooring Specialists Ltd, laying terrazzo in schools, hospitals and stores. His son, Sante Zanetti, our current chairman and director joined the company as an apprentice, aged 17.
By 26, Sante decided to branch out and formed a new company in conjunction with some colleagues. Before long, the Zanetti name became well known in its own right as the name associated with quality terrazzo installations.
In the following years the company acquired Marble Flooring Specialists Ltd., and then later The Bristol Marble Co. Ltd. These acquisitions enabled the company to enter into a wider field, encompassing terrazzo, mosaic, marble, granite and other stone finishes. Much like terrazzo itself, the company has lasted through many changes in the building industry. Today our products and floors can be found in airports, shops, and railway stations around the world.
Using its Italian background and knowledge, it is now able to purchase direct from the quarries and manufacturers in Italy, where specialist products are sourced.
We have travelled the world looking for new customers, ideas, products and innovations – introducing the latest machines, products and innovative materials to the stone industry.
We have always looked ahead, and take care of the small things as well as the big. Efficiency and progress always matter to us but we also like to retain our friendly, reliable approach to business.
Loyalty and tradition mix well, and the company continues to grow from strength to strength, moving to larger and larger premises. Today we are located in a six acre site in a thriving business area in the city of Bristol.
Marble Flooring Specialists is now a market leader in the supply of agglomerate and engineered stone products. Supplying products internationally, to USA, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, UAE, the Seychelles, France, The Netherlands, Australia and Eire as well as throughout the whole of the UK.
The next generation of this family will be pioneers in their own right. As ever the Zanetti family ethos remains the same; who is actually doing the managing is not the critical factor, as long as the decisions are based on inherent integrity: that is the stronghold of the organisation.