About us

Nella Knife Sharpening Service History

The Nella story began in the small Italian village of Carisolo in the northern region of Trentino. In 1901, Emilio Nella, moved away from his native land to seek a better life elsewhere in Europe. Pushing his grindstone barrow, and travelling on foot, Emilio began an epic journey.

One year on, Emilio arrived in Deptford London establishing a reputation as a master grinder and sharpener. Local caterers and butchers soon became loyal customers and word spread of Emilio’s skill and reputation. The Nella legacy was born.

In the mid-1920’s Emilio’s two sons, Pietro and Camillo learned their father’s trade, taking over the business when their father retired. Pietro Nella was joined in the mid-1950’s by his son Pierfranco Nella and in the 1980's Pierfranco's sons Emilio and Mark joined the business and continue to this day alongside, their sons and daughters.

Fast forward to 2025 - we’re proud to service thousands of customers across the UK, Ireland, and Europe. With our fleet of over 100 vehicles, and a team of 200, we remain dedicated to our core service - supplying sharpened knives to help our customer’s kitchens run smoothly. From local restaurants, takeaways, hotels and butchers to national pub and restaurant chains, contract caterers and food production factories, we tailor our services to meet each customer's unique needs.