In 1794 Don Simon Agostini left the shores of “Corsica” to head for the new world. Why he chose Trinidad is not clear, but nevertheless some 131 years later his great grandson Johnnie Agostini began a commission indent business which has evolved today into Agostini’s Limited. The early lines that Johnnie Agostini handled were men’s socks, flour, soya beans and pickled meats. In 1933 he was joined by his brother Albert Victor Agostini and a partnership was registered as Agostini Brothers. Eight years later, the youngest bother Frank “Sonny” Agostini joined the firm and in 1943 Agostini Brothers became a limited liability company. Nearly forty years after, Agostini’s Limited became a public company quoted on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange. At that time, the “Brothers” was dropped from the name and the company became known as “Agostini’s Limited”.

During the last eighty-two years, the company has been involved in many aspects of business here in Trinidad. In 1933 an Insurance Division was formed and later in 1938 when George Farah joined the company, the division was expanded to handle all classes of insurance. Later this division would be divested. In the late 1930’s the Company diversified from an indent type of business into the distribution area which is still one of its principal activities. The early products included “Carlings” beer, “Arrow” shirts and “Standard” brand condensed milk. In the 1950’s the Company continued adding to the list of products it distributed, with the addition of pharmaceutical lines from Hoffman La Roche, Wyeth Ayerst and Ciba Geigy. Later May & Baker, Eli Lilly, Rhone Poulenc, A.H.Robbins, Sanofi/Winthrop, Lederle and Zeneca would be added.

Numerous products from Procter and Gamble including Tide detergent, Clorox bleach and Crest toothpaste were also early products carried by Agostini’s. In 1951 DuPont refrigerants and propellants joined the list while our hardware section grew with the addition of plywood and a range of carpets, floorings, partitions and Armstrong flooring and ceilings. Later Corning Ware and Sunbeam products joined the list of products sold by Agostini’s. In 1970 Agostini’s began to expand and formed Agos Manufacturing Limited to produce fluorescent lighting fixtures. Today the company manufacturers many different fixtures and exports them to customers throughout Caricom , the USA. and Canada under the Agos Lighting Label In 1984 the Company acquired Hilti W.L.Yearwood Limited, a company that exclusively marketed the industrial range of Hilti products. This company’s name has since been changed to Agostini’s Fastening Systems and now also markets explosives, Sig and Ruger small arms and a range of ammunition.

In 1986, the Group invested in a diaper manufacturing operation. This company was divested in 2004. In 1993 the Group acquired Gordon Grant Trading Limited, a distribution company specializing in the sale of Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceutical Chemicals and Veterinary products. The company has been renamed “Agostini Pharmaceutical Limited” and all of the pharmaceutical lines previously handled by Agostini Marketing have been transferred to this company, which is now one of the largest Pharmaceutical Distribution companies in Trinidad & Tobago. In 1995 Agostini’s acquired a majority shareholding in Rosco Sales Limited, a company involved in the oilfield supplies business. In December 2000 this company acquired Petroavance Trinidad Limited, also a company involved in the oilfield supply business. Petroavance was amalgamated into Rosco Sales Limited in 2001 and is now called Rosco Petroavance Limited.

Over the past few years, the Company has expanded its distribution businesses with the addition of several major new lines and has more recently expanded into the retail arena with three decorative lighting stores that dual as retail Sherwin Williams Paint stores.

The Group also expanded into factory built pre-engineered homes and has already completed over 300 homes around the country.

In 2007, the Group acquired an 85% interest in Mobern Lighting, a manufacturer and distributor of lighting products located in Maryland, U.S.A

In August 2008 the group acquired Hand Arnold (Holdings) Limited, an 88 year old successful distribution company, that has a product range that is very complimentary to the Group’s current lines.

The Agostini’s Ltd group celebrates its 83rd anniversary in 2008.