Casalasco acquires 70% of De Martino srl to consolidate its presence in the Asian market

Casalasco S.p.A., Italy's leading integrated industrial tomato supply chain, has signed an agreement for the acquisition of 70% of De Martino s.r.l., a historic trading company specializing in the global marketing of Italian food preserves, with the aim of strengthening its supply chain and consolidating its presence in the Far East and Northern European markets, with a particular focus on Japan and Scandinavia.

De Martino s.r.l., a company owned by the De Martino family that has been operating for decades in the food sector to promote and export Made in Italy globally, has direct relationships with important players in Eastern markets (Japan and Southeast Asia) as well as Northern Europe, generating a turnover of approximately 40 million euros, heavily concentrated on tomato products.

Thanks to this operation, Casalasco, which exports approximately 70% of its production primarily to Europe with a particular focus on Germany, France, and the UK, can further expand its commercialization plans with the aim of bringing the quality of Italian products worldwide. The Asian market, increasingly important in terms of volumes and appreciation for Italian food products, is one of the company's main targets. For years, the company has overseen Japanese distribution in both the retail and foodservice channels, partly thanks to a local sales office.

The acquisition of De Martino will allow for a significant increase in commercialized volumes which is expected to result in approximately triple the current revenues in both Japan and Scandinavia. This operation is part of Casalasco's growth strategy launched in recent years, aimed at gaining increasingly broader control of the supply chain. Agricultural innovation, industrial investments, and market acquisitions demonstrate a continuous commitment to meeting demand and responding to consumer needs.

“Through this new operation, we aim to strengthen our presence in markets we consider strategic, particularly in terms of enhancing the value of Made in Italy – states Costantino Vaia, CEO of the Casalasco Group. “The partnership with qualified and highly experienced operators, such as De Martino, will allow us to be operational immediately in these geographical areas, with the aim of achieving growth and profitability targets more quickly.”

The De Martino operation represents another step in the strategic plan that began with the acquisition of Emiliana Conserve in 2022 after the entry of the fund QuattroR into the company's capital.

For operational and management continuity, Wolfgang De Martino will retain 30% of the shares and be reconfirmed as Managing Director of the entity.