Archives: Povijest

Petrinja and the Gavrilović family

Turks have built a fortress on the site of today’s Petrinja in the 16th century. After their expulsion, at the confluence of Petrinjčica and Kupa, a new Petrinja developed as an important military and commercial center within the Military Frontier. First members of the Gavrilović family came to Petrinja as early as middle of the 17th century. Having fled from the Turks, brothers Ivan and Petar began to engage in the butcher trade. Nowadays the company is managed by the ninth generation of the Gavrilović family.

Formation of the butcher’s guild

Once the Turks are expelled, new life flourishes in Petrinja. In 1773, Empress Maria Theresa designated Petrinja as the center of guild trade for the entire Frontier. The Gavrilović brothers are among the founders of the butcher’s guild in Petrinja.

Suppliers to Napoleon

Petrinja was part of Napoleon’s Illyria from 1809 to 1813. year. Napoleon’s Marshal Marmont turned Petrinja into his regimental headquarters, and the Gavrilović brothers were the main suppliers of Napoleon’s troops within the Military Frontier.

Organized production

Together with a few selected butchers and merchants from Petrinja, Ivan Gavrilović establishes the first factory. The factory secures a concession for supplying meat to army barracks throughout the Military Frontier, and Ivan’s son Matija expands the production by adding a bakery and a number of mills. He also opened the first tannery within Frontier territories.

Ban’s honor

Butchers Josip and Ivan Gavrilović become main meat and meat product suppliers of Jelačić’s army during the annual military exercises. Colonel Josip Jelačić had the sympathies of the citizens of Petrinja and members of the Gavrilović family right from his arrival in Glina in 1841. year. From then on, Jelačić regularly visited Petrinja and became friends with butcher magnate Gavrilović.

A decade of business ascent

Sons of the late Mate Gavrilović register the company Mate Gavrilović i drug. About fifty employees work in the factory and 50 pigs are slaughtered each day.

The rise begins

Near the end of 1889, the company was registered in court under the name of “First Croatian salami, sausage and dried meat factory M. Gavrilović & sons — Petrinja”. From the report of Zagreb Chamber of Commerce: “… young Gavrilović brothers remodeled and then founded a large factory of salami, bacon and dry meat in 1889 and established a farm for their own needs, which they intend to gradually increase as this industry progresses”.

Dominating the domestic market

Press reports on how the First Croatian factory of salami, dried meat and lard suppresses foreign competition with its excellent products such as dried meat, bacon and lard. Croatian salami, the forerunner of today’s Winter salami, tied with Croatian tricolored string, receives an honorary diploma at the Jubilee Economic and Forestry Exhibition.

Luck favors the brave

That year the winter was particularly harsh, which favored the quality of all cured meat products. This has further strengthened Gavrilović leading position on the market.

International expansion

The factory which now has 120 employees and sells its products to Hungary, Germany, Bosnia, Switzerland, Asia Minor, Palestine and Egypt is completely modernized. A beautiful and modern Gavrilović butcher shop opens in Vienna.