We kicked off our 2025 Success Stories Breakfast Series with Owner and Founder of That’s Amore Cheese, Giorgio Linguanti, sharing his inspiring story of taking his interest in cheesemaking to the flourishing cheese empire that That’s Amore Cheese is today.
Giorgio’s journey began when, in 2004, he moved from Italy to Australia for love— or as the Italians say, amore. Though he didn’t speak a word of English, Giorgio found work at a cheese factory and, despite the challenges of the cheesemaking process, his curiosity and passion were ignited by the idea of creating a wide variety of products from just one ingredient: milk.
Four years later, with experience in two different cheese factories, Giorgio took a bold step and started his own business. From his home he began crafting just one product – Bocconcini Leaf – which quickly became a favourite with Italian restaurants across Melbourne.
Fast forward to today, and That’s Amore Cheese has expanded significantly. The business now operates out of a large facility in Thomastown, which houses both the cheesery and a bustling deli and café. The company has grown to employ a team of 150, producing over 65 different types of cheeses and exporting to more than 10 countries.
Recognising that further growth would require more than just his leadership, Giorgio made the pivotal decision to bring on a CEO. In 2024, Marco Alghisi joined the team and has since worked alongside Giorgio to navigate the next phase of the company’s growth. Together, they took the stage at the Success Stories Breakfast to discuss the decision to share leadership responsibilities.
Both Giorgio and Marco acknowledge that they complement each other’s skills, with each bringing unique strengths to the table. Their partnership has proven instrumental in helping That’s Amore Cheese thrive, even amid challenging economic conditions. By bringing in a CEO, Giorgio was able to remove barriers to growth and, more importantly, return to focusing on his true passion—cheesemaking. With Marco at the helm, Giorgio can now focus on working on his business, rather than in it.
The conversation also delved into their decision to flip the traditional organisational chart, placing the most important person—the customer—at the top. This shift has created new opportunities and laid the groundwork for future success.
When asked about the possibility of his daughters joining the family business, Giorgio was quick to point out that they are still young and exploring their own passions. He expressed a desire to give them the time and space to discover their own passions, just as he did. However, if they choose to join him in the future, they will start from the ground up, gaining hands-on experience in every area essential to building a successful business.
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, insightful questions coming from a diverse audience. More than 150 guests were in attendance, including our business community, innovation specialists, and VCE students from Ave Maria College, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, and St Bernard’s College.
Barney Adams, Special Counsel in the Employment, Safety and Migration team at Macpherson Kelley, also joined us to share his insights on managing the risks of “permanent casuals” and key workplace safety challenges in today’s landscape.
Thank you to the support of event partners, NORTH Link and Melbourne’s North Food Group; our sponsors, Macpherson Kelley and Essendon Fields; and our venue, Hyatt Place Essendon Fields.
It was another fantastic morning of learning, networking, and collaboration.
The next Matthews Steer Success Stories Breakfast will be held in October 2025. Join our mailing list to hear about future events.
Any questions? Get in touch with our team today.
