A Cardiff-based couple has turned their passion for authentic Italian food into a growing online business after securing a £15,000 Start Up Loan with support from its partner, BizBritain.
Putia Italian Food Box, founded in April 2026, is an online Italian delicatessen bringing an authentic taste of Italy to customers across the UK. The business was established by Italian couple Giuseppe and Sabrina who met in a Cardiff cafe after moving to the UK to improve their English nearly 15 years ago.
Sabrina, originally from Sicily, and Giuseppe, from Naples, both have backgrounds in customer service and hospitality. They have worked in Italian restaurants and decided to combine their experience and shared love of Italian food to create a business of their own because of the challenge they faced trying to source real Italian food and ingredients.
Putia sells a range of authentic Italian food, including traditional products and well-known commercial brands that can be difficult to find in the UK. The couple aim to help Italians living in Britain reconnect with the food they grew up with, while introducing Italian products to a wider audience of food lovers.
The Start Up Loan provided crucial funding to help Putia get off the ground, with the majority used to purchase initial stock from Italy. The funding also provided working capital to help the business manage cash flow during its early stages.
Giuseppe and Sabrina discovered the programme while researching funding options online. They both continue to work full time while running Putia as a sideline and passion project alongside raising their young daughter, who is chief taste tester of Putia stock like Mellin and Plasmon baby foods.
Giuseppe said:“Putia is our little piece of Italy here in Wales. Our long-term goal is to become a well-known destination for Italian food in the UK, while keeping it personal and family-run.
“Our range of everyday foods are items we genuinely grew up with; products you find in regular Italian supermarkets; the brands chosen by Italian families every week.
“Initial financial support from the Start Up Loan, enabled us to purchase enough stock and start the business properly. It meant we could start with a stronger foundation rather than trying to build everything very slowly from our own savings.”
Putia is expanding its presence within the local community, attending events and markets including Cardiff Bay’s recent Italian Food Festival.
Kirat Singh, Loan Proposer, bizbritain, commented: “Giuseppe and Sabrina had a really clear sense of what they wanted Putia to be and, importantly, a genuine understanding of the customers they wanted to serve. It was a pleasure for Bizbritain to support them through the Start Up Loans process and help them access the funding needed to turn that idea into a trading business.
“What really stands out about Putia is the authenticity behind it. This is a business built around products Giuseppe and Sabrina know, love and have grown up with, and that personal connection comes through strongly in what they are creating. We’re delighted to have played a part in helping them get started and look forward to seeing the business develop.”
The British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme provides finance and support to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow a new business. Successful applicants can access a government-backed personal loan of between £500 and £25,000, alongside 12 months of free mentoring.
