The Granarolo Group has been opening up to foreign markets in recent years, whilst aiming for the excellence of the made in Italy trademark. The production of classical Pdo hard cheeses, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, Pecorino Sardo and Romano, Caciocavallo, and Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane, are starting to implement this aspect. “We operate – Filippo Marchi, director of the Business Unit Italy and non-European countries explains– in over 56 foreign countries, with a particularly strong presence in the EU. Granarolo International is the company that owns the foreign subsidiaries Granarolo SAS France, Granarolo UK, and Iberian Granarolo. The most developed amongst the European markets is France, where we have two factories. Here, Granarolo, represented by the brand Casa Azzurra, stands its ground as the leading brand amongst the well-ripened multifarious Italian cheeses. Still, in France, Granarolo cream cheeses come in second place. The supermarket chains we are working on in the United States, in turn, are Roundys and Fairway. We are also present in the most important chains of the Middle East, CRF & Spinneys, and we are setting agreements in China where we opened a sales office in Shanghai. Our most recent acquisition has led our subsidiary Granarolo International to a hold in stakes of 25% of the shared capital of European Foods, a leading distributor of Italian food in New Zealand. We have moreover developed a range of products specifically for the overseas markets. Amongst the newcomers are Mascarpone UHT Long Life, with a shelf life of 9 months, approved by the Academy of Italian Master Confectioners (AMPI), or the line of IQF frozen mozzarella available in various sizes and cuts, with a shelf life of 24 months”.
