Melegatti passes to Balconi (Valeo Foods), aiming for international growth

Melegatti 1894 Spa, a historic brand from the Verona holiday sweets district known for the production of Pandoro, Panettone and croissants, joins the international group Valeo Foods, a European leader in the food sector headed by Bain Capital and which acquired Dal Colle in May 2024.

The operation was carried out through the sale of the company by Melegatti 1984 to Balconi, a Lombardy confectionery company that is already part of Valeo Foods Group, one of the main European producers of quality sweets, snacks and baked goods. It is a new chapter after the troubled years of Melegatti's bankruptcy, then taken over by the Spezzapria family, entrepreneurs for five generations in various sectors. Roberto Spezzapria, president of Melegatti, explains: «After the success of the relaunch of the historic brand on the Italian market, we entrust the future to the experience and expertise of the Valeo Foods Group. We are certain that Balconi will be able to guide the brand towards a new phase of international growth, further strengthening its value and honoring its deep roots in Italian culture».

Melegatti - which already exports a share of more than 20% of its product - will remain strongly rooted in Verona, where production activities will continue in the two factories in San Giovanni Lupatoto and San Martino Buon Albergo (for continuous products). A transition that fully safeguards employment: "The entire operation was shared with the union and the RSU - explains Massimiliano Zanaglia of the Cisl, the most represented union in the company - It will be a seamless transition and includes existing contracts, machinery and the entire workforce: the key role is that of production capacity, which will flow into a larger baked goods hub". There are 73 employees left in the company at the two sites (but for Christmas leavened products alone, this becomes 160 with seasonal workers). Melegatti employees have been on the front line since the beginning of the crisis to save the company, also safeguarding the precious mother yeast that is the basis of the recipe when there were pickets at the entrance to the factory. It was 2018. Founded in Verona in 1894 by Domenico Melegatti – inventor of the original Pandoro – the company has maintained a strong bond with the territory over time, promoting artisanal products, traditional production processes and high-quality ingredients.

Now the goal with Valeo Foods is to further strengthen its production capacity, expand its range and ensure even more structured growth in international markets. Valeo Foods Group has over 90 brands in its portfolio and a presence in more than 100 countries. "We are thrilled to welcome Melegatti - said Ronald Kers, CEO of the Group - This acquisition represents a significant strategic step in the expansion of our portfolio of high-quality and well-known brands, and underlines our commitment to excellence, innovation and long-term value creation. By integrating Melegatti into our business, we strengthen our presence in SW-Europe and open new avenues for growth within our global network - while bringing authentic, high-quality Italian bakery products to consumers around the world".