Our Story
Established in 1963, Margiotta Food & Wine is a family-run business with stores across Edinburgh and East Lothian. Working with great suppliers, from local producers to leading brands, the Margiotta name stands for the best quality, choice and service in your local area.
Family is at the heart of the Margiotta story - from our first shop just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to the present day, we are a family-run, independent business focused on bringing you the very best food, wine and more.
Our story started in December 1957 with the arrival of my parents Pierino and Eleonora and their six children to a flat on Commercial Street in Leith - a long way from their home in Picinisco, a small village in the Apennine foothills in Lazio, Italy.
The family connection with Scotland actually began in the late 1800s when my grandfather Francesco made his way to Royal Deeside where he married my grandmother Luisa and together they opened cafés and ice cream shops in Ballater, Aboyne, Banchory and Stonehaven. My mother was born at this time and she enjoyed 13 happy years at the family home in Stonehaven until they all returned to Picinisco.
When I was 9 years old, my family decided to move back to Edinburgh, and in 1963, with lots of hard work, were able to rent their first shop at the top of St Mary's Street, just off the Royal Mile - a little sweet and ice cream shop. From here we opened another in the Canongate, before taking over a café and ice cream shop in Brougham Street before buying our first very small shop in Marchmont Road.
Working alongside my brothers and sisters, we started to develop the Margiotta brand and as the business grew we were able to buy the whole corner of Marchmont Road and Spottiswoode Road.
I then set out on my own in 1989 with the purchase of the Warrender Park Road store and the rest followed from there. The next location was Comiston Road, followed by Ashley Terrace, Dundas Street, Lasswade Road, Polwarth - and then all the rest! Today we have 12 stores across Edinburgh and East Lothian. Margiotta has always been a family business, and I’m so pleased that the whole family is actively involved in the company. You will most likely see me, my wife, son and daughters around the shops as well as my sister and nephew. Even though the business has grown over the years, it remains rooted in family.
We all owe a great debt to the citizens of Edinburgh, for their custom and support over the years. We strive every day to give something back by way of good customer service and what we hope is always a pleasant shopping experience. We’re excited to share more of this next chapter of the Margiotta story and to see where we can take the business over the coming years.
Grazie,
Franco Margiotta
