'Sorsi e Risorsi', a journey through the metamorphosis of Turin's food enterprises

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - The story of the evolution of Turin's industrial fabric, taking its cue from the vintages of Freisa Doc di Chieri wine, was the protagonist of "Sorsi e Risorsi", the event at the Cantine Balbiano organised by the Food Industries Group of the Unione Industriali Torino, on the occasion of the first ten years of the "Vigna Villa della Regina", the only wine produced in the territory of the City of Turin. The event was part of the calendar of over 120 events planned for Torino Capitale della Cultura d'Impresa 2024. Through guests of excellence such as Luca Ballarini, Luca Boffa, Beatrice Borgia, Barbara Graffino, Fabio Grimaldi, Marco Lavazza, Licia Mattioli, Silvia Meacci, and Don Luca Peyron, the metamorphoses that have taken place over the last decade were recounted in the words of the entrepreneurs who have helped shape the face of the city.

In the Turin area over the last ten years employees in the food sector have grown by 2.7%, of which 41% work in companies with over 50 employees. A positive trend that is also confirmed by companies' expectations for the third quarter of 2024, with 16% of companies expecting employment to grow. "The food industry in Turin somewhat reflects the national structure. We are a primary excellence made up of small, medium and large companies with a strong link to the territory, the city and the supply chains, but also companies strongly devoted to exports,' explained Simona Radicci, president of the Food Industries Group of the Unione Industriali Torino. The association groups 56 companies with over 4,700 employees, 'but we aim to expand, we have great potential for growth to unite other companies in the Food & Beverage sector in our area,' she specified. The goal, according to Radicci, is 'to become more and more a reference for institutions, for the territory, for training, and for schools'.

In Turinexports grew by 5.6% between 2022 and 2023 alone, more than the growth of the Piedmont region, which was 3.5%, with France, Germany and the United States as the main destinations. "Our products are present in the best international markets, they are excellences that compete in America, Asia, the Middle East and the Far East. At macro-regional level we have a global turnover of just under 20 billion euro, half of which is export. And the export of Turin's food industries is over 2 billion in 2023 alone,' the president continued. The importance of exports was also acknowledged by Marco Gay, president of the Unione Industriali Torino, who highlighted the contribution of those companies that 'grow, contributing in a decisive way to the export of our made in'. Made in Italy, in fact, 'is not just a brand,' echoed Radicci, 'but avery strong identity. This identity is reflected in our origins, our traditions, our territory and our companies'. The companies in Turin's food sector, then,fully represent the business culture thanks to 'a very strong link of our companies with the territory' and the fact that 'most of our companies come from families that have been able to reinvent themselves, build, renew with a view to growth and conquest of markets not only domestic, but above all international,' stressed president Radicci.

And in order to reinvent itself, investments are fundamental: 'it is important to invest in sustainability, in digitalisation, in products and services, to offer a good and certified product. We have always invested in our territory because in Turin and its province we have a very strong supply chain and this allows us to maintain jobs,' concluded Simona Radicci. 'The food industry has grown steadily over the last decade, transforming itself profoundly. Investments and strategies on our food excellence have thus generated an industrial and technological supply chain among the most advanced,' agreed President Gay. And the challenges for the future are clear: 'Climate change, together with technological transition, represent a major challenge for the future of this sector. Turin companies are protagonists in this vision, aware of the risks and opportunities, which will ensure stability and growth in the coming years for this important sector,' concluded the president of Unione Industriali Torino.