Frutti di Gil
New partnership project called Frutti di Gil sees one of Europe’s largest fresh produce distributors make significant investment in Italy’s burgeoning soft fruit business
One of Europe’s leading fresh produce distributors, Gruppo Orsero , has entered into a new joint venture business called Frutti di Gil to develop sales of fresh berries in Italy.
The partnership also involves Cerchia Holding, led by berry breeding specialists Matteo Molari and Luca Molari , who will both lead the new business as co-CEOs.
The brothers are also managing partners of two other companies in the soft fruit breeding arena called G-Berries and Molari Società Agricola.
According to Orsero, which has a 51 per cent share in the project, Frutti di Gil combines the Molaris’ two decades’ experience in varietal improvement and nursery propagation with its own commercial and distribution strength, the latter supported by a unique network across Italy.
“We are satisfied with this agreement which will allow us to focus on a range of products with great growth potential,” said Raffaella Orsero , vice-president and CEO, and Matteo Colombini , joint CEO and CFO of Orsero Group.
The project will draw upon a number of production areas that can guarantee high-quality, ultra-fresh products for 52 weeks of the year.
Harvested berries will be graded and packed at Orsero warehouses before they are forwarded and sold throughout Italy.
The distributor’s Verona warehouse will act as the venture’s central hub until a new 7,000m2, two-floor facility is completed next-door. Around 1,200m2 of that new centre will be dedicated entirely to berries and fitted with cutting-edge selection and sizing machinery.