Alkemia SGR, with co-investment from Banca Ifis, has launched Food Excellence, a new private equity fund targeting Italy’s agri-food sector. The fund has established Convivio, an industrial holding company designed to consolidate leading domestic producers, with a focus on fresh pasta and ready meals.
The Italian market for these products surpassed €2.7 billion in 2025, driven by stable demand for high-quality food. Globally, the category is growing at a compound annual rate of between 3.3% and 7%, underpinned by rising interest in the Mediterranean diet. Despite this momentum, the Italian industry remains highly fragmented, characterised by small and medium-sized, often family-run businesses struggling to scale internationally.
Convivio aims to address this fragmentation by creating a national food platform with global reach. It launches with combined revenues of €27 million and is targeting €100 million within five years. The holding has already acquired five premium producers:
- Valsugana Sapori (Trentino)
- Parmachef (Emilia-Romagna)
- Casanova Food, including the Pasta di Venezia brand (Veneto)
- Pastificio Cecchin (Veneto)
- Poggiolini (Tuscany)
In each case, the founding families and incumbent management teams will remain in place, providing continuity and preserving local expertise.
“We’re not just aggregating companies — we’re investing in the soul of Italian food,” said Luca Duranti, CEO and managing partner of Alkemia Capital SGR. “Our ambition is to build a centre of excellence that allows each brand’s story and strengths to thrive on the global stage.”
Convivio plans to invest in production capacity, marketing, and international expansion, positioning itself as a reference player in the fresh pasta and high-end ready meals category. Its portfolio will highlight regional Italian specialities and niche health-oriented products, including gluten-free and lactose-free offerings.