CONAPI announces new logistics hub and completes 5 million plan: tripling honey storage capacity and innovating the beekeeping supply chain
The project, divided into two phases, includes the enlargement and energy efficiency of the production site and the construction of a new 2,500 m² logistics hub in Monterenzio (BO), which expands the existing plant in the Valle dell'Idice (6,500 m² and 48 employees). The facility increases the overall storage capacity to 18,000 drums, equivalent to over 5,000 tonnes of honey, thus almost tripling it. It integrates photovoltaic installations and a highly insulated structure, reinforcing the resilience of the supply chain and the cooperative model of CONAPI, which registers an annual turnover of EUR 23.5 million. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by the Monterenzio mayor, the regional councillor for agriculture and the president of the Emilia-Romagna Region, testifying to the strategic and institutional importance of the investment.
Monterenzio (BO), 3 October 2025 -The Consorzio Nazionale Apicoltori (CONAPI), with a total of over 600 beekeepers, 100.000 hives owned, about 5 billion bees distributed throughout Italy, and an annual production of about 30,000 quintals of honey between conventional and organic, represents the biggest beekeeping cooperative in Europe, with members also in Spain and Hungary. CONAPI is taking a strategic step by inaugurating the new logistics hub in Monterenzio, a 2,500 m² facility that is part of a larger investment project of some 5 million euro, divided in two phases. Present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were the Monterenzio mayor Davide Lelli, the regional councillor for agriculture Alessio Mammi, and the president of the Emilia-Romagna Region Michele De Pascale. The opening of the new hub is part of a broader territorial revitalisation plan, following the extreme weather events of recent years, with the construction of a modern, technological and sustainable facility.
CONAPI's recent development path is based on a clear strategy: invest to innovate. In Phase 1, the company enlarged and made the production facility more energy efficient, with the support of regional and state funds (PSR and PNRR). Two photovoltaic systems were installed, with a total capacity of 585 kW (495 kW and 90 kW) of storage, representing an important step towards energy self-sufficiency.
The Phase 2 led to the construction of the new Hub of 2.500 m², intended mainly for the storage of the products delivered. This is not just a logistical space, but a true conservation cell that will further preserve the quality of the honey. In a context marked by the Climate Change and the increasing variability of production, this warehouse becomes a strategic tool to guarantee continuity of supply and responsiveness to the complex dynamics of demand and supply.
The new site allows the storage of 18.000 drums, equivalent to over 5,000 tonnes of honey, a leap that will strengthen the cooperative's position as a key player in the international beekeeping industry.
The new infrastructure has been designed with a strong focus on environmental and energy sustainability. Built in lamellar wood and highly insulated sandwich panels, it houses a 92.25 kW photovoltaic system with 150 monocrystalline panels, which joins two 495 kW systems with a 90 kW storage system already present in the plant.
The centrepiece of the day was the Vision Talk "Future with Bees - New Hub, New Wings. For tomorrow", a moment of discussion with the business community and strategic stakeholders, focused on the identity values of Radic, Cooperation, Authenticity and Future. Speakers included institutional, cooperative and scientific representatives, with video contributions from Luigi D'Eramo, undersecretary of MASAF, and Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, together with testimonies from Legacoop and Confcooperative, as well as climate experts and biologists.
"The new hub represents a functional and innovative infrastructure, capable of strengthening theItalian beekeeping supply chain at an international level," said Giorgio Baracani, president of CONAPI-Mielizia. "Sustainability, innovation and competitiveness are the pillars of this investment, which allows us to ensure quality, continuity and rapidity of response to the complex global dynamics of supply and demand."
CONAPI represents the unique and authentic honey supply chain in Italy, founded on a cooperative model that controls the entire production process, from production in the apiary to marketing. Its mission is clear: protect the bees, enhance the products of its member beekeepers and offer a 100% Italian, traceable and high quality honey, also available organically, as well as the other products of the hive.
The cooperative model remains the distinctive lever of CONAPI's growth. Founded in 1979, the consortium brings together hundreds of beekeepers who share risks and opportunities, ensuring resilience and competitiveness. With more than 100,000 hives and 5 billion protected bees, CONAPI today develops an annual turnover of 23.5 million euro and is present not only on the Italian market, through the Mielizia brand and the MDD, but also on international markets.
The honey market in Italy exceeds 157 million euro in turnover. In this context, Mielizia - the premium and historical brand of the cooperative - confirms a positive performance. According to Nielsen data updated to August 2025, the brand recorded growth in the last year of 5.3% in value, 3.2% in volume and 10.2% in terms of packs, thanks to the strengthening of distribution and a positioning recognised by consumers for quality, transparency and guaranteed supply chain. Among the portfolio's best performers are the SportPocket line, Italian honey in a 100 g doypack format designed for practical and dynamic consumption, and the honey, pollen and royal jelly mix in the 80 g format, which combines taste and functionality in a unique product.
"Thanks to the new logistics hub and the expansion of the production lines, we can invest with even greater determination in innovation, bringing to the market the best Italian honeys, the fruit of the passionate work of our beekeepers. This investment represents not only a quantum leap in storage capacity and product protection, but also a bet on the future of our Cooperative: a future made of sustainable growth, the enhancement of the supply chain and the strengthening of our presence both nationally and internationally," commented Nicoletta Maffini, General Manager of CONAPI-Mielizia. - "It is a choice that will consolidate the Cooperative's positioning and strengthen its mission: to value the work of beekeepers, protect bees and actively contribute to the development of the communities in which we operate, generating positive impact on the territory and the environment."
