GranTerre Group acquires Pimpernel Wharf to strengthen its presence in the UK

The GranTerre Group - a major player in the PDO sector with a turnover of over 1.8 billion – announces the acquisition of Pimpernel Wharf, a British company specialising in the marketing and distribution of cheeses and cured meats. The transaction, completed by the subsidiary Caseifici GranTerre through the acquisition of 100 per cent of the company’s shares, “represents a strategic milestone for the Group and marks the completion of the first phase of the internationalisation plan, aimed at developing a direct presence in all the main export markets for Italian cheeses and cured meats”, according to a company statement.

Based in Reigate, Surrey, south of London, and founded in the 1960s by the Stuart family, Pimpernel Wharf is ‘a well-established player in the UK market’, where it markets and distributes a wide range of food products, specialising in particular in cheeses – both fresh and mature, traditional and speciality – and in continental cured meats.
The company reports an annual turnover of approximately £16.9 million (€20 million), with a customer base concentrated mainly in the retail, industrial and foodservice sectors. Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano together account for around 22 per cent of turnover, whilst cured meats account for around 7 per cent. Private-label products account for around 30 per cent of sales.

“Pimpernel Wharf’s entry into GranTerre,” the company announced, “completes our direct presence in the main international markets identified in the strategic plan: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland. The Group can thus rely on a network of sales offices in key markets, managed by its own staff, with the aim of strengthening its relationship with customers, identifying consumer needs more effectively and promoting its products of excellence – the pride of the Italian food industry – in foreign markets.”

“This is the culmination of a project we have pursued with determination over the last few years,” says Maurizio Moscatelli, Chief Executive of the GranTerre Group. Having a direct presence in our key target markets means we can develop closer relationships with customers, gain a better understanding of local dynamics and make the most of the quality of our products. With Pimpernel Wharf, we are strengthening our commercial capabilities in the UK and providing the entire Group with an even more robust and integrated international platform, offering growth opportunities for both cheeses and cured meats.”

GranTerre Spa was established on 1 January 2019 following the merger of two long-standing companies in the Italian agri-food sector: Grandi Salumifici Italiani Spa (now Salumifici GranTerre Spa) and Parmareggio Spa (now Caseifici GranTerre Spa). Wholly owned by a cooperative, it is controlled by Consorzio Granterre Sca; in addition to the company name and the umbrella brand GranTerre, the Group includes brands such as Parmareggio, Parmacotto, Casa Modena, Senfter, Agriform, Alcisa, Teneroni, LiberaMente and others. The Group boasts 23 production plants in Italia, including its logistics hub, and 2 in the US, 6 overseas branches, as well as 3,200 employees and contractors, and exports to 74 countries worldwide. Turnover stands at 1.87 billion euros, of which over 600 million is generated abroad.