La Rocca Celebrates 40 Years of Tradition, Emotion & Passion

From family bakery roots in Naples to partners across North America and international markets, La Rocca marks four decades of creating cakes for life's meaningful moments, in a year that also sees Sammontana Italia celebrate the 80-year heritage of Sammontana Gelati all'Italiana and Bindi Dessert.

RICHMOND HILL, ON, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- La Rocca Creative Cakes™ is celebrating its 40th anniversary, marking four decades of family entrepreneurship, craftsmanship and a passion for creating desserts that bring people together and become part of shared moments. The milestone comes at a significant time for Sammontana Italia, the Group of which La Rocca has been part since 2025, as it marks the 80-year heritage of Sammontana Gelati all'Italiana and Bindi Dessert, two brands founded in Italy in 1946.

Inspired by the La Rocca family's original bakery established in Naples, Italy, in the 1950s, La Rocca Creative Cakes was founded by Lina, Harvey, Marty, and Michael in Woodbridge, Ontario, in 1986. What began as a family business built on generations of pastry-making expertise has grown into an international bakery brand, with cakes and desserts today reaching consumers through more than 5,000 partners.

"For 40 years, we've had the privilege of being part of people's celebrations," said Michael Givens, President of La Rocca Creative Cakes. "Tradition, Emotion & Passion aren't simply the words we live by. Tradition is what was passed down from one generation to the next. Passion is what our people bring to their craft every day. And emotion is what happens when one of our cakes becomes part of a moment people remember."

Across four decades, La Rocca has developed a collection of cakes that have become enduring parts of its story. The Truffle Royale™, with layers of chocolate cake and rich chocolate truffle, remains one of the bakery's most recognizable creations. Alongside it, varieties such as Lemon Mousse, Brownie Chocolate Cheesecake, and Tiramisu reflect different eras of La Rocca's evolution while continuing to connect generations of dessert lovers.

While La Rocca has grown significantly since 1986, its approach to cake-making remains rooted in the principles on which the business was built: quality, attention to detail, and craftsmanship. Proudly made in Canada, La Rocca combines carefully selected ingredients, scratch-made components, and the expertise of its pastry teams. Canadian-sourced ingredients, including eggs, flour, and cream, are complemented by those sourced from trusted suppliers around the world, while many desserts continue to be hand-finished.

The integration of La Rocca Creative Cakes into Sammontana Italia marks a particularly meaningful chapter in the Group's journey, in the same year that Sammontana Italia celebrates the 80-year heritage of Sammontana Gelati all'Italiana and Bindi Dessert, two brands founded in Italy in 1946. Different entrepreneurial stories, born in different places and at different times, now come together within a Group that values strong roots, distinctive know-how and long-term vision as the foundations for future growth.

The addition of La Rocca further strengthens Sammontana Italia's presence in North America and its positioning in the premium dessert segment, one of the areas at the heart of the Group's international growth strategy. This reflects Sammontana Italia's broader approach to growth: bringing together brands with strong histories and distinctive identities, preserving their recipes, expertise and connection with their markets, while creating new opportunities through a shared industrial and international platform.

Moreover, following the achievement of B Corp certification by Sammontana Italia, the Group is reinforcing this model across its entire business perimeter, thanks to a vision of business that combines growth, sustainability, and responsibility towards people, communities, and future generations.

"Forty years gives you an opportunity to look back, but it also makes you think about what comes next," added Givens. "We're proud of where we came from, proud of the people who helped build La Rocca, and excited about where our passion for great desserts will take us next." As La Rocca enters its fifth decade, the company continues to develop new desserts while preserving the recipes, techniques and standards that have defined the brand for generations.

Forty years later, the purpose remains simple: create desserts worth sharing.

About La Rocca Creative Cakes & Sammontana Italia

La Rocca is part of the Sammontana Italia family, with members of the founding family continuing to contribute to the business. 

Sammontana Italia is one of Italy's leading players in the production and distribution of bakery products, sweet and savoury frozen products, desserts and ice cream for the Ho.Re.Ca. and modern retail channels. Headquartered in Empoli, the Group employs more than 2,400 people across six production sites in Italy and three international facilities in the United States, Canada, and France. The Group is the result of a successful Italian entrepreneurial journey, driven by a confident outlook towards the future and a strong sense of responsibility towards future generations.

For more information about La Rocca Creative Cakes, visit LaRoccaCakes.com.
For more information about Sammontana Italia, visit SammontanaItalia.com. 

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SOURCE La Rocca Creative Cakes