Barillais an Italianmultinationalfood company founded in 1877. It is the world's largestpastaproducer.[2]
Company type | Società per azioni |
---|---|
Industry | Food processing |
Founded | 1877 |
Founder | Pietro Barilla Sr. |
Headquarters | , Italy |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Guido Barilla(chairman) |
Products |
|
Revenue | €4.869 billion (2023)[1] |
€301 million (2023)[1] | |
€284 million (2023)[1] | |
Total assets | €4.392 billion (2023)[1] |
Total equity | €2.223 billion (2023)[1] |
Number of employees | 9,040 (2023) |
Divisions | 20 brands |
Website | www |
History
editThis sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(October 2021) |
The company was founded in 1877 as a bakery shop inParma,Italy, by Pietro Barilla Sr. The company expanded in 1908, and in 1910 Barilla inaugurated a new pasta factory equipped with a "continuous baking" oven.[3]
After the death of Pietro Barilla Sr., his sons Riccardo and Gualtiero took the reins of the family company, increasing the production and distribution of products, thanks to technological innovations which allowed the company to rapidly transform itself, over the course of the 1920s and 1930s, into the most important bread and pasta company in Emilia-Romagna.
In 1919 Gualtiero Barilla died, leaving his brother Riccardo at the helm of the company together with his wife Virginia.
In 1947 Riccardo also died and the management passed to his sons Pietro and Gianni, exponents of the third generation.
With the advent of the two Barilla brothers, the company experienced a phase of great development, and in 1952 the production of bread was suspended to concentrate solely on pasta. In those years, Barilla quickly transformed itself from a regional company to a company with a strong presence in northern Italy, thanks to the quality of the products, the balanced prices and to its innovative capacity, such as the use ofcardboardto pack pasta.
In 1960 Barilla became a joint-stock company, and in the following years it opened new factories, in Rubbiano, which marked Barilla's entry into the cracker and breadsticks sector, and in Pedrignano, just outside Parma.[4]
The company remained in the hands of the Barilla family until 1971 when the American chemical companyW. R. Graceacquired a controlling interest. However, Grace left day-to-day control in the hands of Pietro Barilla, grandson and namesake of the company founder. Pietro reacquired control in 1979, and the company has remained privately held ever since.[5]
In 1993 Pietro Barilla died at the age of 80 and the management of the company passed to his childrenGuido,Luca,andPaolo.This led to the fourth Barilla generation, and throughout the nineties the company continued the internationalization process, which began at the beginning of the decade under the management of Pietro, opening in 1999 the first production plant in Iowa, in the United States.
This expansion continued with the acquisition of various foreign companies in the food sector, such as theMISKOpasta company in Greece (1991), the Turkish pasta companyFiliz Makarna(1994), the SwedishcrispbreadproducerWasabröd(1999), the joint venture with the Mexican Herdez in 2002 (pasta brands Yemina and Vesta).[4]In 2002 Barilla took over the German company Kamps AG, which was then sold to the CzechAgrofertin 2013, except for the French soft bread company Harrys, which still belongs to the Barilla Group.[6]In 2007 Barilla opened a second production plant in the United States, in Avon, New York.
At the beginning of 2021 Barilla finalized the acquisitions in Canada of the Catelli company (including Lancia) and, in the United Kingdom, of the majority stake inPasta Evangelists,a London-based start-up for the production offresh pastafor home delivery; operations that mark the international growth of the Barilla Group and its desire to identify and anticipate consumer needs and values around the world.
In December 2022 the Group also acquired Back To Nature, a US brand specialising in plant-based, non-GMO products.
Overview
editThe Barilla family has been at the helm of the company since its foundation in 1877. Barilla Group controls Barilla (multinational pasta maker),Mulino Bianco,GranCereale,Pan di Stelle,Pavesi,Voiello,First and Academia Barilla(Italy),Harrys(France),Wasabröd(Sweden),Catelli(Canada),MISKO(Greece),Pasta Evangelists(United Kingdom),Filiz Makarna(Turkey),Back To Nature(United States), Yemina (Mexico) trademarks.
The group produces many types ofpasta,and is the world's leading pasta maker with 24.5% of the Italian market.[7]It produces pasta in over 160 shapes and sizes. Barilla brand pasta is sold in numerous restaurants worldwide, such as those belonging to thePastamaniachain.[8]It is also the leading seller of bakery products in Italy. Through its acquisition of the Swedish company Wasa, it is the world's leading producer of flatbread (a Scandinavian staple), selling 60,000 tons annually.[9]
Barilla Group has 30 production sites, 15 in Italy and 15 in the rest of the world: production plants are located in Italy and in Greece, France, Germany, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, the United States (in Ames, Iowa and Avon, New York), Mexico and Canada. The company also operatesmillsin Italy, Greece, Sweden, Turkey, the US and Canada. While its central office is inParma,it has corporate offices in several other countries as well, such as Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the US, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and Japan. Barilla is distributed in the UK by Euro Food Brands Ltd. Barilla's Italian production facilities are located in Parma,Foggia,Marcianise,Castiglione delle Stiviere,Cremona,Melfi,Rubbiano,Novara,Muggia[10]andAscoli Piceno.[11]Its plant in Greece (nearThiva) is the third largest in Europe.[12]The plant where the pasta was made is noted on the packaging by a code letter,[13]whereas products made in Italy are explicitly labeled as such.[14]Thewheatused to make the final product is purchased from around the world.[14]
In 2023, the company had a turnover of €4.869 billion, with a net profit of 284 million euros.
In 2024, Barilla was ranked as the firstfood companyin the 2024 Global RepTrak® 100 rankings for its reputation, securing the 29th position worldwide.[15]
Other activities
editIn 1987, on the initiative of Pietro Barilla, the Barilla Historical Archive was created to collect, preserve and enhance the company's historical documentation, starting from 1877. The archive is located in the Barilla plant in Pedrignano, near Parma, and it contains over 60,000 documents divided by sector, also including the documentation produced by the brands subsequently incorporated into the company:Voiello,Mulino Bianco, Pavesi, Filiz, Wasa, Harrys.[16]
On 30 November 1999, the ItalianMinistry of Culturedeclared the Barilla Historical Archive "of remarkable historical interest" because it "bears witness to the development of the food industry in Parma and the evolution of society in Italy".[17]
Since 2018 the new internet site is active and available, in which it is possible to visit the different sections of the archive, among which are the photo library and TV advertising with more than 2700 commercials.
The Barilla Historical Archive, in 2001, has been among the founding partners ofMuseimpresa,an Italian association that collects more than 100 members as Museums, Archives and Cultural Institutions and that represents a very useful place for meetings, changes of experiences and knowledge.[18]
In 2014, the Barilla Historical Archive has contributed to install, atCorte di GiarolanearCollecchio(Parma), an ancient 11th century Benedictine Grancia, theMuseum of Pasta,with equipment and documents of extraordinary interest, including an entire pasta plant dating back to 1850 and the oldest sample of industrial spaghetti dating back to 1837. The Museum of Pasta is inserted in the circuit of Museums of Food of the province of Parma, as well as theMuseum of Tomato,installed in the same Corte di Giarola.
In 2009, the BCFN - Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (now "Fondazione Barilla" ) was established: it is a multidisciplinary, independent think tank working for food sustainability and healthy lifestyles.[19]
Sponsorship and promotion
editAs of 2020 the 'global testimonial' of the company isRoger Federer.The company has sponsored theItalian national basketball teamon several occasions,[20]as well as the Italian race car driverAlex Zanardi.[21]Furthermore, Barilla is currently the main sponsor of the US alpine skierMikaela Shiffrin[22]and tennis playerCoco Gauff.[23]
In 2021, Barilla created a Spotify playlist with songs timed just long enough for the perfect pasta.[24]
Controversies
editIn 2013, after the chairmanGuido Barillamade comments regarding his opposition toadoption by gay familiesand unwillingness to showcase gay families in his advertisements,[25]some called for aboycottagainst Barilla products.[26][27][28]Guido later apologized,[27]and the company began advocating for LGBTQ causes.[29][30][31]The company has partnered with theReuters Foundationon the Openly initiative, a global LGBTQ news platform.[32]
In 2022, two Americans filed aclass action suitin a California court against Barilla. They accused the company of emphasizing its Italian identity while the majority of its products are manufactured in the United States. Barilla attempted to have the case dismissed, but a judge ruled that the plaintiffs had suffered "economic injury" due to the deceptive advertising.[33][34]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcdeAnnual Report 2023.Barilla Group.
- ^"Guido Barilla".Forbes.Retrieved23 August2019.
- ^Álvarez (1988)."LA MÚSICA EN EL CONGRESO DE CULTURA DE CANARIAS (Noviembre de 1986 - Febrero de 1987)".Revista de Musicología.11(1): 324.doi:10.2307/20795224.ISSN0210-1459.JSTOR20795224.
- ^ab"BARILLA HISTORY".Archivio Storico Barilla.Retrieved18 June2021.
- ^"Barilla: Italian or American".Archivedfrom the original on 1 October 2020.
- ^"Barilla Signs Deal To Sell Lieken To Agrofert".Barilla Group.Retrieved18 June2021.
- ^Quanto vale il mercato della pasta in Italia e nel mondo,Business Intelligence Group,4 May 2021
- ^"Unleashing the 'Mania' - 7 million plates of pasta sold... and counting!"(PDF).Asia Franchise & Business Opportunities (April - June 2008). Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 27 February 2013.Retrieved9 February2013.
- ^"HomePage".wasa.29 September 2020.Retrieved18 June2021.
- ^Barilla acquires Pasta Zara's factory in Trieste,ItalianFood.net,12 October 2020
- ^"Barilla - Good for You. Good for the Planet".Barilla Group.Retrieved17 July2019.
- ^"Barilla July 2008 Report"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 1 October 2020.
- ^Information from Barilla Spaghetti n.5 packaging
- ^ab"Pasta, Pasta Sauce, and Recipes | Barilla".Pasta, Pasta Sauce, and Recipes | Barilla.Retrieved17 July2019.
- ^"Barilla ranks as the first food company in the world for reputation in the 2024 Global RepTrak® 100".Barilla Group.
- ^"The Barilla Historical Archive".Archivio Storico Barilla.Retrieved18 June2021.
- ^"BARILLA HISTORICAL ARCHIVE IS ONLINE OVER 35,000 DIGITALISED PHOTOS, VIDEOS AND ADS 141 YEARS OF MEMORIES OF A COMPANY THAT REFLECTS ITALY'S HISTORY".14 November 2018.Retrieved13 July2021.
- ^"Museimpresa".Retrieved13 July2021.
- ^"Mission Vision - About Us - Barilla Foundation".barillacfn.Retrieved18 June2021.
- ^Photos - FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Italy) 2016,FIBA, Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ^Rachel Cohen,Amputee race car driver Alex Zanardi to compete in NYC Marathon in handcycle category,USA Today,11 January 2007
- ^BARILLA EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. ALPINE SKIING STAR AND 2014 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST MIKAELA SHIFFRIN
- ^"A NEW ACE JOINS THE BARILLA TEAM".Barilla Group.Retrieved18 June2021.
- ^https:// foodnetwork /fn-dish/news/barilla-spotify-how-long-to-cook-pasta-playlistsBarilla Past Playlists
- ^Cavan Sieczkowski (26 September 2013)."Barilla Pasta Won't Feature Gay Families In Ads, Says Critics Can 'Eat Another Brand Of Pasta'".Huffington Post.Retrieved26 September2013.
- ^"Italian pasta brand Barilla in gay advert row".BBC News.26 September 2013.Retrieved26 September2013.
- ^abSara C Nelson (26 September 2013)."Guido Barilla, Pasta Chairman, Faces Backlash Over Anti-Gay Comments".Huffington Post (UK).Retrieved26 September2013.
- ^VcVeigh, Trevor (29 September 2013)."Pasta-maker in hot water as rival posts pro-gay imagery on social media".The Observer.
- ^Somashekhar, Sandhya (19 November 2014)."Human Rights Campaign says Barilla has turned around its policies on LGBT".The Washington Post.Retrieved12 January2017.
- ^Wallace, Gregory (19 November 2014)."Barilla goes from worst to first on gay rights".CNNMoney.Retrieved12 January2017.
- ^Weiss, Geoff (20 November 2014)."How Barilla transformed into a trailblazer for corporate equality".Entrepreneur.Retrieved12 January2017.
- ^"OPENLY".OPENLY.Retrieved10 November2023.
- ^Romo, Vanessa (27 October 2022)."2 Californians bought Barilla pasta thinking it was made in Italy. Now they're suing".NPR.Retrieved28 October2022.
- ^Valinsky, Jordan (20 October 2022)."Is Barilla really 'Italy's No. 1 brand of pasta?' A lawsuit says no | CNN Business".CNN.Retrieved28 October2022.