Blade Runners: Nella Cutlery

The Aprile Entries

Welcome to the second installment of the Aprile Entries. In each issue, Celebrity Chef Claudio Aprile recounts casual conversations and experiences with people, places and events in the community. Otherwise, you’ll find him at one of his restaurants, or at home cooking, and creating recipes.

@ClaudioAprile1 • ClaudioAprile.com

Nella Cutlery’s foundation was forged on quality products and strong family values.

When I was approached with the great opportunity to interview Rob Nella I instantly knew that I didn’t want this article to focus solely on his monetary milestones or his business achievements. I wanted to shed some light on who Rob is, his character, what drives him and how he has been able to forge his path whilst still honouring the core values of his grandfather’s and father’s vision for Nella.

If you’re a chef or restaurant owner in Canada you know who Rob Nella is. He’s the owner of Nella Cutlery, which has been providing restaurants from coast to coast with everything you need to open and maintain a restaurant. This year marks 75 years since the first knife was sharpened in a small town in Italy called Pinzolo.

I was 22 years old when I first met Rob. I was about to open a new restaurant and I needed guidance on kitchen design. Since then he has played an integral part in every restaurant that I have opened. The process of opening a restaurant is multi-layered and can be overwhelming. Staff always come first. Rob knows this so he designs kitchens to maximize flow, performance and the overall staff experience. The culinary program and intention of the restaurant are critical pieces of the puzzle. It’s not a transactional process. There’s no hard sell or pressure. He realizes that many competitors are selling the same products as he is. But what gives him the cutting edge is his ability to connect with people in a very organic and honest manner.

We’re all inundated with the narrative of the elusive overnight success story, the miracle drug. Our social media feeds are teaming with business gurus preaching that if you follow these “12 easy steps,” you too can become very successful and wealthy. None of those lessons apply to Rob Nella’s trajectory. His success is built on consistency, cultivating great partnerships, leading by example and a work ethic that he witnessed firsthand from his mentors, his grandfather and father. These are the pillars of his business. That’s how Rob built one of the most successful companies in Canada. 

To understand what has made Nella thrive for three-quarters of a century you need to go back to that small town in Italy where it all started with Rob’s grandfather. After returning from the Second World War he needed to start the next chapter of his life. The idea to start a knife sharpening company germinated in a small town in Italy called Pinzolo. This town is still known for knife sharpening and became the catalyst that inspired Grandfather Antonio to learn the craft and start his own business.

The early days shaped the company that we all see today. As a young boy, Rob learned the importance of paying close attention to the details, consistency and that no job was below him – advice that he instills in his daughter and three sons that are at the beginning of their journey into the family business. When I asked Rob to describe his grandfather, his answer was swift. “He was a legend, a real man, a gem, always disciplined.”

Rob’s philosophy is “stewardship,” never trying to leverage the past or rest on someone else’s success. Always protect the business and it will protect you and the team. The first generation creates wealth, the second generation grows it, and the third generation loses it. These are words that are a constant in Rob’s life.

Rob’s succession plan for Nella is a simple and clear path. Keep mentoring the next generation, and find compelling ways to continue to give back to his community. One thing is for certain, there’s no retirement plan on the horizon. When I asked Rob about what his driving force is, he quickly responded with one word. FAMILY.

I suspect that one day if his children are posed the same question, they will arrive at the same answer: “My dad is a legend, a real man, a gem.”