From December 31, 2024, Italy’s Tonazzo Group will exit the meat business to focus all efforts on plant-based proteins, in a bid to reduce environmental impact and promote healthier, more balanced diets for current and future generations.
The move marks the latest step by the Tonazzo family to position itself at the forefront of industry change. In the 1990s, the group’s founders revolutionized the meat sector by introducing differentiated cuts, while simultaneously pioneering plant-based alternatives under the Kioene brand. Today, Kioene is a leader in Italy’s plant-based food market.
Employees affected by the transition will be offered roles within the group, which is shifting its investments to expand Kioene further. The company’s plant in Villanova di Camposampiero (Padua) will continue to develop and produce plant-based products, using high-quality vegetables and legumes. Kioene already offers around 100 products, enjoyed by 2.3 million Italian households.
“We are embarking on the third revolution in our company’s history, and, we hope, in the sector as well,” said Stefano Tonazzo, CEO of the Tonazzo Group. “While our family has been involved in the meat industry for five generations, nearly 40 years ago we began a shift by introducing plant-based protein alternatives. With the same spirit of innovation and foresight, we are now closing all meat-related operations to focus entirely on plant-based proteins and our Kioene brand, already the leader in Italy.”
Albino Tonazzo, CEO of Kioene, echoed the sentiment: “As early movers in this market, we feel a deep responsibility to future generations. We want to contribute to environmental preservation and to foster collective awareness. We are confident that the market and consumers will once again follow our lead.”
