Italy: Fornaio del Casale acquires three food firms

Fornaio del Casale, the Italian bakery producer trading as Gecchele, has acquired three Italian snack and confectionery companies to form a new group named Equipe Del Casale.

The acquisitions of Castelfood, Figuli and Dolciaria Ponte Vecchio mark the first stage of a ‘buy-and-build’ strategy led by the Italian private equity firm Aksìa SGR, which acquired Fornaio del Casale in October. Castelfood specialises in ‘better-for-you’ cereal and vegetable snacks and has annual revenue of €12 million ($12.8 million). Figuli, a manufacturer of organic and gluten-free products, generates turnover of €7 million ($7.5 million), while traditional bakery firm Dolciaria Ponte Vecchio reports sales of €5 million ($5.3 million).

The combined Equipe Del Casale group currently records consolidated turnover of approximately €85 million ($90.7 million) and operates five production sites. According to Borsa Italiana, the group expects 10% revenue growth in 2026.

Filippo Anichini, partner at Aksìa SGR, stated: “The acquisitions represent the first milestone in our strategy to create a leading group in the quality sweet and savoury snacks market”.

Source: Aksìa SGR / Just Food / Borsa Italiana / BeBeez International