ITALY – Italy’s second largest player in the traditional sweet and breakfast biscuit market Balocco is planning to expand its presence in international markets, which already account for 12% of its total turnover.
To do so, Balocco is planning to expand its current production capacity, with a complete new plant and equipment intended to create specifically designed products for foreign markets.
Family-run company Balocco currently sells its products in around 60 countries, the main markets being France, China, Turkey, the UK and the US.
International sales in 2016 have grown by around 10% on the previous year to around €170 million ($180.24m).
According to president and CEO, Alberto Balocco, the main challenge is that Italian eating habits for breakfast are different to other countries.
Currently, Balocco sells Italian products abroad, but the company has also been studying new products that could meet the taste and eating habits of foreign consumers.
In related news, Italian festive cake and pastry producer Melegatti has invested around €15 million ($15.9m) in a new croissant plant in San Martino Buon Albergo near Verona.
The 21,000 square metre production unit will produce 200 million units of croissant a year, for an average of 35,000 daily.
February 12, 2017; https://www.esmmagazine.com/biscuit-maker-balocco-to-expand-production-capacity/38485
