Biassono (Milan), 2016 Nov 17th
Rovagnati SpA, one of the leading Italian firms producing high quality ham, with an annual turnover approaching €300 million, is rapidly diversifying.
As reported in Il Sole 24 Ore, Rovagnati has announced the acquisition of the historical brand Pineider (established in Florence in 1774), well known for excellence in the field of speciality paper and personalised letterheads, business cards, wedding invitations etc. as well as accessories, watches and leather goods.
The advent of digital technologies has led to a crisis in the field of specialty papers, although the decline of Pineider began a long time before: purchased in 2000 by the Hopa Emilio Gnutti group, the Florentine brand ended three years ago, struggling with the debt restructuring of the Gnutti family.
Now Rovagnati aims to relaunch the Pineider firm. As Rovagnati CEO, Stefano Ferrari, says “The acquisition of Pineider fits into a broader diversification project already undertaken with Berkel and marked by the revival of prestigious brands that are characteristic of the Made in Italy branding, in a market where the customer wants top-end quality. The three main development drivers are: the writing, the paper and the leatherwear. Finally, production will be brought back to Tuscany by the end of the year.”
The company “Florence 1774”, created to relaunch Pineider, is preparing to reopen the factory in Bagno a Ripoli (Florence), where a laboratory for the paper and the showroom will be created. The investment plans are still being drawn up and the development plan will be ready at the beginning of 2017.