Sacco system strengthens in Asia and invests 80 million in three years

Sacco system strengthens its position in the Asia Pacific region, with the opening of a new subsidiary in China, in Shanghai, and invests EUR 80 million over the next three years (2026-2028), after investments of EUR 108 million between 2023 and 2025. The group, based in Cadorago, a small town in the province of Como, owns one of the world's most important microbial banks with more than 6,500 strains from which enzymes, milk enzymes, microorganisms and probiotics for the food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, agricultural and veterinary industries are created. Founded around Caglificio Clerici, founded in 1872, the group is headed by the Verga family, which aims to create an increasingly international dimension, as well as to increase volumes, automate production lines, further develop research and development laboratories and have more modern information systems: for this over a period of 6 years, from 2023 to 2028, it will spend 188 million euros.

Sacco system ingredients can be found in yoghurts, fermented milks, cheeses, sausages, beverages and other fermented products in more than 110 countries around the world, including China, an increasingly important country for the dairy sector, especially for the exponential spread of yoghurt. Already relying on a consolidated presence in Europe, which it serves through its production plants in Cadorago, Caslino, Vertemate, Zelo Buon Persico and Skurup, as well as in the United States, in Franksville, and in Australia, in Brisbane, the Verga family has decided to strengthen its presence in the Asia Pacific area. As Viola Verga, who is part of the board and represents the fifth generation in the company, together with her sisters Iris and Margherita, explains, 'strengthening our presence in China means being closer to customers, scientific partners and the main biotech innovation ecosystems, while at the same time enhancing our microbial know-how in a key market for the future development of the food and human wellbeing sector'.

Thus, after the acquisition of two Latin American subsidiaries, the Verga family decided to open the new Sacco system Siyike headquarters in Shanghai. The operation consolidates the biotechnological group's presence in one of the world's main poles of biological innovation, enhancing the group's century-old microbial technology. China is one of the countries with the highest potential, where the human microbiome market is booming, with an estimated value of over two billion dollars this year, mainly due to the growing focus on gut health and biotechnology development. At the same time, the local dairy market is growing at around $40 billion. Despite the fact that less than 14% of the cheese sold in China is produced locally, there is a positive trend in production, thanks also to government choices that aim to change the population's eating habits, thus creating huge potential for this market. Major investments will be made this year in Northern Europe, where in Denmark, together with INzymes, new enzymes for dairy applications related to milk collection will be launched on the market.

The group's international focus has moved beyond Europe since the 2000s. First there was growth in Latam with the acquisition of two Sacco distributors present in Uruguay and Brazil, which was followed by the project to open a phage laboratory where serum analyses of local customers will be conducted. Since 2010, the group has been increasingly looking to the Asia Pacific market. In 2018, the first regional subsidiary arrived in Singapore, followed by Japan, Australia and finally China, with the aim of localisation. "The start-up of Sacco System Siyike in Shanghai," says Viola Verga, "represents a fundamental strategic step in the group's international growth path and is part of a long-term vision in the Asia Pacific region. The Chinese subsidiary will play a strategic role in the localisation of advanced technologies and the development of solutions for transversal markets, through the creation of an ecosystem of local partnerships. For areas such as Asia and South America, Sacco system has developed innovative tailor-made solutions, especially designed for yoghurt and fermented milks with a more viscous texture and less acidic taste, and for cheeses, especially pasta filata.

The Cadorago group with its 6,500 microbial strains is thus becoming a reference from South America to China and Japan. To innovate, it has 90 research projects under way and collaborates with 40 universities. In the future, expansion plans will also cover Africa and the Middle East. The outlook, even in a difficult environment, is one of continued growth in both turnover and profitability. Turnover increased from 142.4 million in 2022 (with Ebitda of 38.4), to 195.4 million in 2025 (with Ebitda of 58). After double-digit growth between 2024 and 2025, the forecast for 2026 is for a plus 9%, thanks to the role of products that promote quality of life and the prevention of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, cholesterol and obesity.