Global beer giant AB Inbev could soon participate in Mutti Conserve’s capital. This hypothesis – involving the historic processed tomatoes’ company from Parma – comes from recent Crédit Agricole’s bank exit from 5% of Mutti’s capital and simultaneous search for strong funding to grow in the global marketplace. Mutti has after all a strong appeal on international markets, thanks to its good economic performances and its characteristic search for quality. Beer giant AB Inbev – that owns Peroni, Moretti, Beck’s, Corona and Stella Artois among others – would be an ideal trading partner for Mutti to access supermarkets in the whole world, particularly after $100 billion merger with South African Sab Miller. Anyway, Mutti’s growth on international markets (today, its turnover is divided into two parts: two-thirds in Italy, one third in France) shall need an economic lever able to ensure access not only on French Monoprix supermarkets, but also in the whole world.
The possible deal with Verlinvest, private equity fund headed by AB Inbev, has been reported by Italia Oggi daily newspaper.
Mutti Conserve was founded in 1850, before Italy’s Unification. It’s one of the most relevant food companies in Parma, with a turnover of €245 million in 2016 (a €40 million increase from 2015).