What are the specific features of the Italian agri-food market?
 The ltalian agri-food sector is the third-largest in Europe in terms of sales and also plays a major raie in the international arena, driven by a tendency among national companies to promote the "made in ltaly" concept of culture, well-being and craftsmanship.

ltaly's economy is characterised by a negative trade balance on commodities. ln effect, sector players typically transform commodities into high value-added, high-quality finished products and promote regional products (a large number of products benefit from a protected designation of origin).

The sector is highly fragmented, with many SM Es, managed by first generation families or entrepre­neurs. lnvestors have a raie to place in accompanying intergenerational transmission by promoting sector consolidation and strengthening managements.


Why did you join Unigrains to launch this project?
Bringing together a bilingual local team, already specialised in the sector and well known by sector players, and a longstanding international investor, highly respected and also specialised in agri­food, to work on a common project, is something unique in the arena of growth capital investors in ltaly.

The ltalian team joined Unigrains to bring ltalian companies the benefit of the Group's international vision, its global network, its sector expertise developed for over 50 years as well as the services of its economic research department in order to analyse new market trends.

How do you bring value-added to Italian entrepreneurs?
With its knowledge of the ltalian market sectors and a direct information network, with no inter­mediaries, the ltalian team contributes genuine added value to partner companies by pursuing industrial and financial action plans.

From an industrial point of view, the team can help leverage new relationships with suppliers (in­gredients, packaging, complementary products) and customers (joint ventures in new markets or networks).

ln terms of financial support, the team is constantly alert to market opportunities as part of acqui­sition strategies. lt supports companies in the acquisition and integration process including in the search for an new recruitments that may be required.


What are the next steps in Unigrains' development in Italy?
ltaly is a key market in the context of Unigrains internationalisation. A fund dedicated to invest­ments in ltalian Agri-Food SMEs is currently being raised.