Rega: 60 Years of San Marzano Tomatoes from the Shadow of Vesuvius

In the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese area of Campania, tomatoes are culture before they are a product. This fertile land sits between the Picentini and Lattari mountains, with the volcanic soils of Vesuvius and a warm Mediterranean climate shaping the character of the crop.

It is here that Luigi Rega founded the family business in 1965. What began as a small farm has grown into Agriconserve Rega, an international canning business supplying more than 40 countries while keeping its supply chain closely connected to the land where everything started.

Today, Rega is known for its San Marzano DOP tomatoes, alongside a wider collection of Italian peeled tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, passata, polpa and concentrated purée. At Ratton Pantry, we are pleased to include Rega in our range of carefully sourced Italian wholesale ingredients for home cooks, pizzerias, restaurants and food businesses.

From a Family Farm to an International Producer

Agriconserve Rega was founded by Luigi Rega, a farmer and entrepreneur with a clear understanding of the value of Campania’s agricultural traditions. His vision was to give the tomato-growing heritage of the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese area a strong future without losing its connection to the land.

Over six decades, the business developed from a family farm into a modern canning operation. The company has continued to focus on a short, controlled and sustainable supply chain, linking agricultural producers, processing and customers across the world.

Three generations of the Rega family have helped shape the business. Today, the company is led by managing director Luigi Rega, grandson of the founder.

The family’s international ambitions grew during the 1990s, when Luigi Rega’s father began exporting to the United States. In 2010, Rega USA was founded to create a permanent presence there. It was considered a bold decision at the time, but it became an important step in the company’s development.

Rega now produces around 500,000 quintals of fresh tomatoes for Ho.Re.Ca. Hotels, restaurants and catering, as well as large-scale retail. Alongside the Rega name, the group also produces under the Strianese and Zia Rosa brands.

Rega is also an approved supplier of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the organisation that protects and promotes authentic Neapolitan pizza.

Why We Stock Rega

We stock Rega because it offers both provenance and practical choice.

The range works from a 400g tin for a home kitchen through to 2.5kg, 4kg and bulk foodservice formats. This means you can use the same style of tomato whether you are making a quick pasta supper, preparing pizza at home or running a professional kitchen.

We also appreciate that Rega goes beyond one famous product. San Marzano DOP sits alongside everyday peeled tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, datterini, passata, pizza pulp and double-concentrated purée. There is a sensible option for almost every tomato-led recipe.

Consistent quality: Rega offers dependable flavour, texture and colour across formats.

A genuine family story: The company remains rooted in the place and agricultural tradition where it began.

Suitable for every kitchen: Choose a compact tin for occasional cooking or a larger format for regular catering and foodservice use.

Made for Italian cooking: The range is designed around the textures and applications that matter in pizza, pasta, sauces, ragù and slow-cooked dishes.

What Makes San Marzano DOP Special?

San Marzano tomatoes are grown in the designated production area of Campania under DOP, or Protected Designation of Origin, rules. The designation protects the variety, growing area and production methods.

The tomato itself has a distinctive elongated shape with parallel longitudinal depressions. It has a bright red colour, relatively few seeds and placental fibres, a skin that peels easily and a characteristic sweet-and-sour flavour.

San Marzano plants are traditionally grown vertically on supports, continuing a centuries-old cultivation method. The combination of volcanic, mineral-rich soil, Mediterranean conditions and careful cultivation gives the tomato its particular balance.

For a classic Neapolitan-style sauce, whole peeled tomatoes can simply be crushed or milled and seasoned lightly. In many high-temperature pizza styles, good-quality whole peeled tomatoes do not need to be cooked before they are spread over the dough. The oven will do the rest.

The Rega Range at Ratton Pantry

For control over texture

Our Rega San Marzano DOP Whole Peeled Plum Tomatoes 400g are priced from £2.49 and are a useful size for home kitchens. Crush them by hand for a rustic sauce, blend them smooth or cook them gently with garlic and olive oil.

For larger recipes, the Rega San Marzano DOP Whole Peeled Plum Tomatoes 800g start from £4.49. The San Marzano DOP tomatoes 2.5kg tin starts from £9.99 and is available in trade cases, making it a practical choice for restaurants and pizzerias.

For everyday sauces and foodservice

The Rega Italian Peeled Tomatoes Gold Tin 2.5kg is priced from £7.99. These tomatoes are packed in thick tomato juice, hold less water than average plum tomatoes and offer a sweeter, less acidic flavour. They are well suited to pasta sauces, pizza and larger batch cooking.

For speed and consistency, the Rega Italian Polpa Tomato Pizza Sauce 4kg is £10.99. It is made from the same peeled tomatoes as the Gold Tins, finely chopped and ready to use. Spread it straight onto a pizza base, season if required and place it in the oven.

The Rega Polpa Tomatoes 10kg are finely chopped Italian tomatoes in natural juice, packed in a compact bag for bulk kitchen use. They bring body and texture to pizza sauces, pasta sugos, ragùs, stews and casseroles. This product is currently listed as a pre-order.

For sweeter small-tomato character

The Rega Authentic Italian Cherry Tomatoes 400g are £1.79. Naturally sweet and delicate, these authentic Italian cherry tomatoes work particularly well in quick pasta sauces, seafood dishes and recipes where the small tomatoes remain visible.

Pomodorini and datterini are useful when you want a sweeter, smaller-fruited character rather than the fuller structure of a whole peeled plum tomato.

For depth and intensity

The Rega Tomato Purée Double Concentrate 800g is £4.99. It is rich, thick and ideal for building depth in pasta sauces, ragùs, soups and braises.

Double concentrate is best used to intensify a recipe rather than as a direct replacement for whole tomatoes. Add a spoonful to the pan with your aromatics, allow it to cook briefly and then loosen with stock, wine, passata or another tomato base.

Choose Your Rega Tomatoes

• Whole peeled tomatoes: Choose these when you want control over texture and plan to crush, mill or cook the tomatoes yourself.
• Passata: Select a smooth, ready-strained base when you want less preparation and a uniform sauce.
• Polpa and pizza pulp: Use these for more body and texture without processing whole fruit.
• Pomodorini and datterini: Choose small tomatoes for a sweeter, brighter flavour and a more visible tomato character.
• Double concentrate: Add this for depth and intensity, not as a substitute for whole peeled tomatoes.

Explore the full Rega range at Ratton Pantry, with formats for home cooking, professional kitchens and growing food businesses.

Bring Rega Home or Into Your Kitchen

Rega combines the character of Campania with the reliability that busy kitchens need. Whether you are building a simple pasta sauce, preparing a traditional Neapolitan pizza sauce or stocking up for service, there is a Rega format to suit the job.

Products marked in stock are available with same-day dispatch for orders placed before 2pm Monday to Friday, with express delivery options available. If you are ordering for a bakery, pizzeria, restaurant or catering business, apply for a Ratton Pantry trade account. We would be happy to help you choose the right format.

Rega FAQs

What is Rega?

Rega is the tomato brand of Agriconserve Rega, a family-run Italian producer founded by Luigi Rega in Striano, Campania, in 1965.

What are San Marzano DOP tomatoes?

San Marzano DOP tomatoes are protected tomatoes grown and processed under DOP rules in the designated Agro Nocerino-Sarnese production area of Campania. They are known for their elongated shape, bright red colour, delicate seeds and fibres, easy-peel skin and balanced sweet-and-sour flavour.

Which Rega tomatoes are best for Neapolitan pizza?

Whole peeled tomatoes, particularly San Marzano DOP, are a classic choice. Crush or mill them, season simply and use them uncooked on the pizza for many high-temperature styles.

Should I choose whole peeled tomatoes or passata?

Choose whole peeled tomatoes when you want control over texture. Choose passata when you want a smooth, ready-strained base with less preparation.

What is the difference between polpa and whole peeled tomatoes?

Polpa is already finely chopped, giving sauces more body and texture without the need to crush whole tomatoes. Whole peeled tomatoes give you greater control over the final texture.

Does Ratton Pantry sell Rega in catering sizes?

Yes. The range includes 2.5kg, 4kg and bulk formats, as well as smaller 400g and 800g tins. Availability varies by product, and some larger formats are available for pre-order.