Emilio Lavazza | Leader in espresso, 78
Emilio Lavazza, 78, who helped make Lavazza coffee the best-selling espresso in Italy and expanded its reach to 90 countries, died Tuesday of a heart attack in Turin.
Emilio Lavazza, 78, who helped make Lavazza coffee the best-selling espresso in Italy and expanded its reach to 90 countries, died Tuesday of a heart attack in Turin.
He started working in 1955 in the family-run business founded by his grandfather Luigi in the late 1800s. He became chief executive officer after his father's death in 1971 and chairman after the death of his uncle in 1979. He retired in 2008.
Under his leadership, the company captured 47 percent of the Italian market to become the most popular coffee brand, the firm said. - AP