Granarolo, The HistoryMicrocomputer Applications CS110Beatrice Greta Zanasi

The History

The origins of Granarolo
In 1957, the Bologna Consortium of Milk Producers is created (CBPL), soon known as “Granarolo”. The Bologna Consortium of Milk Producers is one of the first experiences of producers not only engaged in collection but also in processing and commercialisation of milk. / 1959
Transporting milk by bike
Il CERPL: the first Italian unitary consortium
Granarolo (member of Legacoop) and cooperative Felsinea Latte (member of Confcooperative) join to launch a bigger reality: the CERPL (Consorzio Emiliano - Romagnolo Produttori Latte), the first unitary consortium set up in Italy. / 9th of may 1971: the Milk Celebration / 6th of march 1973: the CERPL participates at the Carnival in Piazza Maggiore at Bologna
1974 - Free distribution of milk to striker labours / 30th of september 1979: Prime Minister of Italian Republic visits the CERPL
/ 1972
The first unitary Italian Consortium
Granarolo grows
Growth in the 70s is consolidated in the next decade by a series of acquisitions throughout Italy: in Modena (Dilat), Foggia (Daunia Nature), Anzio (Sogecla), Novara (Milk Verbano) and in Versilia (Centrale del Latte in Camaiore). / 1983 - Chinese delegation visits the CERPL
1984 – Luciano Pavarotti at the “Sala Rossa” in Bologna
The Consortium Granlatte and Granarolo S.p.A.
The Consortium, which is given the name Granlatte, creates a limited company (Granarolo S.p.A.) to which it transfers all its industrial and commercial assets retaining full control. In these years, moreover, the shareholders assembly of Granarolo S.p.A. approves an increase in corporate capital which allows it to enter the public merchant bank Itainvest S.p.A. (which then becomes Development Italy and subsequently Invitalia). / 1989 –Granarolo’s Christmas Tree in Piazza Maggiore in Bologna / 1990
The creation of the Granarolo S.p.A
The campaign of acquisitions continues
Granarolo S.p.A. acquires the productive and commercial branch of Centrale del Latte of Viterbo and 50% of Calabrialatte S.p.A., fresh milk market leader in Calabria. The process of business diversification is started with acquisition of 100% of the shares of Vogliazzi Specialità Gastronomiche S.p.A and by establishing Agriok S.p.A, a company that will manage an e-procurement portal dedicated to services for agriculture. Granarolo wins the tender for privatisation of the Centrale del Latte in Milan. In 2002, the Board of Directors of Granarolo S.p.A. decides to merge the controlled subsidiaries Centrale del Latte of Milano, Dilat and Lazio into a parent company, simplifying the group’s corporate structure. The following year, Sviluppo Italia (now Invitalia) exits the shareholding and the relative capital share is purchased again by Granlatte. / 2000- Acquisition of Centrale del Latte di Milano; Historical picure of Centrale del Latte company, located in Lombardy
2004 - Acquisition of Yomo: Pasturago production plant
/ 2000s
The new acquisitions and expansions

Now

The production plant and latest updates

2004: Yomo becomes a Granarolo brand

The Yomo Group joins the Granarolo Group. In June, the Court of Pavia authorizes admission of the companies in this Lombardy Group to a creditor’s agreement. This gives the go-ahead to the 6 year lease of Yomo, Pettinicchio, Merlo and Leo Marven System to Yogolat, the new company constituted specifically by Granarolo to manage the operation.

2005: Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. becomes Granarolo shareholder

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A becomes a Granarolo shareholder. The agreement signed between the Bank and Granarolo is supposed to rescue Yomo and provide financial coverage for the operation. Intesa subscribes a capital increase of around 70 million thus acquiring a 19.8% share. As a result of the conclusion of the operation two representatives of the Bank join the Board of Directors of Granarolo S.p.A.. With the acquisition of Yomo, the Centro Sperimentale del Latte (CSL) also joins Granarolo's corporate orbit, part of the Yomo galaxy that aims to promote studies and scientific applications on lactic acid bacteria and moulds to improve dairy, agro-livestock and pharmaceutical products. CSL is then sold to the Group Sacco in 2013.

2009: Granarolo has a new Chairman: Gianpiero Calzolari

Granarolo's chairman changes: Luciano Sita leaves the role he has covered since 1991 and is succeeded by Gianpiero Calzolari, already Granlatte and Legacoop Bologna's chairman.

2011: Granarolo looks abroad

Granarolo Iberica S.L. is set up, the first company branch dedicated to foreign trade, with the aim of distributing food products in Spain. With creation of this branch (office), Granarolo confirms its development projects on foreign markets also through local sites. In September, the Italian cheese company Lat Bri, the third largest producer of fresh cheese in Italy, is acquired. This operation allows Granarolo to increase its presence in the sector of fresh cheeses and the range of products offered to the market.

2013: The internationalisation of Granarolo

Granarolo announces acquisition of the French group CIPF Codipal, head of the holding Compagnie du Forum SAS, an established French producer and distributor of mature and cured cheeses through the three brands Casa Azzurra, Les Fromagers de Ste Colombe and Les Fromagers de St. Omer. The acquisition of CIPF Codipal is very important as part of the the Granarolo strategy aimed at internationalising the company and exporting its Italian products, already highly appreciated across the border. This operation launched Granarolo International, the company that is to become a benchmark for all international activity by the group. In December, Granarolo UK is created, a company controlled by Granarolo International for the export of cheeses to the United Kingdom and Ireland. The same year also sees signing of the partnership with Amalattea S.p.A., one of the major Italian operators in the production and marketing of goat's milk and dairy products.

2014: The first billion

In January, Granarolo S.p.A and Vivartia Group, which is part of the largest Greek manufacturer of Delta Dairy Cheese Foods S.A., sign a partnership agreement for the distribution of Greek yogurt and cheese in Italy.

In April, the Centrale del Gusto S.r.l. is inaugurated, a bakery, ice cream parlour and coffee shop in the centre of Bologna, which combines Granarolo's high-quality ingredients with the skill and imagination of a renowned master of confectionery, Gino Fabbri, President of the Italian Master Pastry Chefs Academy (AMPI).

In the same year Granarolo S.p.A. wins the competition organised by the Italian Pavilion to represent the Italian dairy industry at Expo Milan 2015, as a partner of Italy Pavilion.

Moreover, international growth by the Group becomes more relevant, as shown by its participation throughout the year in the major international food trade fairs in South Africa, Brazil, United States, Britain, Australia and France. At the end of the year announcements are made of both the acquisition of the Caseificio Pinzani, a cheese factory specialising for over 45 years in the production of pecorino cheese using the "raw milk” technique, and the opening of the first commercial branch in Shanghai, China.

Granarolo closes 2014 with over a billion euros in turnover.

2015: Granarolo at Expo 2015

On 10 January, at the inauguration of the Bologna Business District and production centre, attended by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and the Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry policies Maurizio Martina, Granarolo announces its agreement with Gennari Parma S.p.A., a company with a long tradition in the production of Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano cheese and Parma ham, and the creation of Granarolo Chile S.p.A., first platform to approach the South American market.

In February, the Africa Milk Project is selected from 800 projects as a Best Practice to be presented at Expo 2015. Reference category: "Sustainable Development of small rural communities in marginal areas." The Africa Milk Project won the Expo 2015 Award, selected out of 800 projects from all over the world and it was a big player at the universal exposition.

From May to October 2015, Granarolo played an important role at the Universal Exposition in Milan, hosting more than 510,000 visitors in its 200m² stand and meeting dozens of delegations from around 30 different countries.

In June Granarolo acquired the historic pasta company Pastificio Granarolo, which produces and markets egg and wheat flour pasta, an operation that is part of the product diversification strategy aiming to boost the Group’s presence on international markets.

In October, Granarolo acquired 25% of European Foods, a leading importer-distributor of products Made in Italy into New Zealand, an initial operation followed by acquisition of a further 26% share at the end of 2015.

Again in October, an agreement was signed with BCUBE – one of the main international operators in Integrated Logistics with Italian capital – for acquisition by the latter of Zeroquattro Logistica, a company that specialises in logistics management in the food sector.

2015 was also the year of the Markets of Fresco Buon Casale: after the opening in October of the one in Gioia Del Colle, in the province of Bari, in November the store in Bologna opened, the first in Emilia-Romagna. It is a self-service market of fresh products for consumers and Ho.Re.Ca operators with convenient prices in the name of sustainability, to reduce waste of products with a short shelf life.

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