An extraordinary new operation abroad for the Granarolo group. After landing in Chile it has acquired 25% of European Food, a New Zealand distributor which has been operating in made in Italy since 2001. The agreement foresees the option for Granarolo to acquire a 51% share of the company within 12-18 months. The transaction was carried out through Granarolo’s International subsidiary. European Foods, based in Auckland, is an importer and distributor of Italian food products in New Zealand, and deals with brands such as Agnesi, Auricchio, Bindi, Clai, Dalter, Montorsi, Monari Federzoni Pernigotti, Mauri and Gennari, which has already entered the Italian dairy group. Today it has a turnover of more than €6 million from the retail and foodservice channels. “New Zealand – said Gianpiero Calzolari, president of Granarolo – is a very interesting country, a market with strong growth, with high purchasing power consumers with a preference for quality products. The transaction will also improve our business in Australia as well as in some South East Asian countries, with which New Zealand has free trade agreements.” The Italian cheese market in New Zealand is worth more than 5 million euro and in Oceania is worth €33 million, of which over 50% is from parmigiano reggiano and grana padano.