Cucina Antica Foods: Premium Pasta Sauce Maker Reorganizes in Chapter 11
Premium pasta sauce maker Cucina Antica Foods reorganized through chapter 11 in the Northern District of Texas. The court confirmed the plan in September 2025, preserving the debtor's three-brand portfolio including Cucina Antica, Monte Bene, and Organico Bello.
In this article
Cucina Antica Foods Corp., a pasta sauce manufacturer operating three brands across U.S. retailers, filed a voluntary chapter 11 petition on December 13, 2024 in the Northern District of Texas. The company listed assets of $100,001 to $500,000 against liabilities of $1 million to $10 million, with fewer than 50 creditors. Judge Scott W. Everett confirmed the plan of reorganization on September 23, 2025, approximately nine months after the petition date. A motion for final decree was filed on April 2, 2026, with an objection deadline of April 23, 2026.
| Debtor | Cucina Antica Foods, Corp. |
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas (Dallas Division) |
| Case Number | 24-34058 |
| Petition Date | December 13, 2024 |
| Confirmation Date | September 23, 2025 |
| Judge | Hon. Scott W. Everett |
| Estimated Assets | $100,001 -- $500,000 |
| Estimated Liabilities | $1,000,001 -- $10,000,000 |
Cucina Antica's Business and Filing Venue
Chef Neil Fusco (given name Aniello Fusco) founded Cucina Antica Foods in 1998 after immigrating to New York from southern Italy. The company was originally incorporated in New York on July 8, 1998 as "San Marzano Foods Corp." and renamed to Cucina Antica Foods Corp. on September 9, 1998. It operates from offices at 333 N Bedford Rd, Suite 118, Mount Kisco, New York, with approximately 21 employees and estimated annual revenue of $4 million to $7 million.
The company operates three brands: the flagship Cucina Antica line using imported Italian DOP San Marzano tomatoes, Monte Bene (a value-priced line launched in June 2009), and Organico Bello (an organic line). Products are distributed through retailers including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Publix, and Amazon. The filing address listed in the petition was 5310 Harvest Hill Rd, Suite 195, Dallas, Texas -- a secondary office tied to the owner -- which established the Northern District of Texas venue.
Debt Imbalance, Freight Litigation, and Rao's Acquisition
The petition disclosed assets in the $100,001 to $500,000 range and liabilities between $1 million and $10 million. The creditor pool was small, with between 1 and 49 creditors, and debts were primarily business in nature.
Pre-petition litigation contributed to the filing pressure. Interglobo North America Inc., a freight forwarding company, sued Cucina Antica in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 7:2024cv09455) in 2024, prior to the bankruptcy.
The competitive landscape in premium pasta sauces shifted in 2023 when Campbell's acquired Rao's parent Sovos Brands for $2.7 billion, adding institutional capital and national distribution scale to a direct competitor.
Cash Collateral and Case Administration
Cucina Antica filed an Emergency Motion for Interim and Final Authority to Use Cash Collateral on December 23, 2024, ten days after the petition date. The court entered an Agreed Order on cash collateral on February 3, 2025, authorizing continued use of operating funds. No debtor-in-possession financing facility was reported in the case.
The 341 meeting of creditors was held on January 22, 2025. The general claims bar date was set for April 22, 2025, with the government claims deadline following on June 11, 2025. On April 2, 2025, the debtor filed a motion to extend or limit the exclusivity period for filing a plan.
Debtor's counsel. Frances Anne Smith of Ross, Smith & Binford PC in Dallas represented the debtor throughout the case.
Silver Palate Enforcement Motion and Contested Matters
The case docket reflects at least two contested matters. The pre-petition litigation brought by Interglobo North America was stayed by the automatic stay upon filing.
Silver Palate Kitchens, Inc. -- a Cresskill, New Jersey-based pasta sauce company and direct competitor -- filed a motion to enforce that appeared on the May 14, 2025 hearing calendar. The specific relief sought in the Silver Palate motion is not publicly detailed in available filings.
Plan Confirmation and Path to Final Decree
Judge Everett confirmed the plan of reorganization on September 23, 2025, approximately nine months after the petition date. The case proceeded through a traditional plan confirmation rather than a 363 sale, preserving the debtor's operations and brand portfolio.
The docket accumulated approximately 160 entries through April 2026. On April 2, 2026, the debtor filed a Motion for Final Decree (Docket #160), and a hearing was held on April 6, 2026 (Docket #161). The objection deadline for the final decree motion is April 23, 2026.
Key Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 8, 1998 | Incorporated in New York as San Marzano Foods Corp. |
| September 9, 1998 | Name changed to Cucina Antica Foods Corp. |
| June 2009 | Monte Bene pasta sauce line launched |
| 2024 | Interglobo North America sues Cucina Antica in SDNY |
| December 13, 2024 | chapter 11 voluntary petition filed (N.D. Tex.) |
| December 23, 2024 | Emergency Motion for Cash Collateral filed |
| January 22, 2025 | 341 meeting of creditors held |
| February 3, 2025 | Agreed Order on cash collateral entered |
| April 2, 2025 | Motion to extend exclusivity period filed |
| April 22, 2025 | General claims bar date |
| May 14, 2025 | Silver Palate Kitchens enforcement motion hearing |
| June 11, 2025 | Government claims deadline |
| September 23, 2025 | Plan of reorganization confirmed |
| April 2, 2026 | Motion for Final Decree filed |
| April 6, 2026 | Hearing on final decree motion |
| April 23, 2026 | Objection deadline for final decree motion |
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Cucina Antica Foods?
Cucina Antica Foods Corp. filed chapter 11 bankruptcy on December 13, 2024 in the Northern District of Texas. Judge Scott W. Everett confirmed the plan of reorganization on September 23, 2025, and a motion for final decree was filed on April 2, 2026.
Who founded Cucina Antica Foods?
Chef Neil Fusco (Aniello Fusco) founded the company in 1998. Fusco immigrated to New York from southern Italy in 1972 and previously operated an Italian restaurant in Westchester County.
Was Cucina Antica sold in bankruptcy?
No. The case proceeded through a traditional plan of reorganization confirmed on September 23, 2025. There was no 363 sale. The company's operations and brand portfolio were preserved.
Who is the judge in the Cucina Antica bankruptcy case?
Hon. Scott W. Everett of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas presides over the case (No. 24-34058).
For more bankruptcy case coverage, visit the ElevenFlo bankruptcy blog.
This article was researched and written with AI assistance, using court filings, public records, and news sources. AI-generated content can contain errors. Verify all information against primary sources before relying on it. This is not legal or financial advice. Read our full disclaimer.