Ulusoy Un Acquires Pasta Production Company in Italy

Ulusoy Un, Turkey's largest flour producer and exporter, has acquired an 85% stake in Pastificio Mediterranea S.r.l. from Spain's Cerealto group as part of its expansion strategy into high-value-added segments. Pastificio Mediterranea has been producing premium Italian pasta in the Silvano d'Orba region of Italy for over 100 years.

Ulusoy Un, Turkey's largest flour producer, has taken another significant step on its growth journey. In line with its expansion strategy in high-value-added sectors, Ulusoy Un has acquired an 85% stake in Pastificio Mediterranea S.r.l. ("the Company or Pastificio Mediterranea"), which has been producing premium Italian pasta in the Silvano d'Orba region of Italy for over 100 years, from Spanish group Cerealto. The founding Moccagatta family will continue to serve in the company and transfer its expertise. With roots dating back to 1908, Pastificio Mediterranea began pasta production using traditional Italian pasta-making techniques in the hills 30 km from Genoa and the Mediterranean. By 1936, manual production had been replaced by the region's first automatic press systems. In the 1950s and 1960s, the company's product portfolio was taken to international markets with the iconic Moccagatta suitcase. In 2003, to meet increasing demand, a modern facility was built in Silvano d'Orba to replace the previous facility in Ovada, where operations continue today. Pastificio Mediterranea produces premium Italian pasta in over fifty different sizes and shapes, offering them to markets across different geographies under various brands, primarily "Moccagatta dal 1908," as well as producing private label products. Pasta, which can be consumed in different forms across cultures, is regarded as one of the world's most important foods due to its long shelf life, high nutritional value, and versatility in pairing with various sauces. Italian pasta, besides being one of Italy's iconic foods, holds the highest share in world exports and consumption in the premium segment, which is produced from 100% durum wheat.

Bold entry into the pasta sector

Ulusoy Un Board Chairman Dr. Eren Günhan Ulusoy, commenting on the acquisition, said: "The knowledge accumulated by Pastificio over more than 100 years impressed us. We believe that this new strategic investment in high-quality, value-added pasta production will strengthen Ulusoy Un's growth steps, accelerate our new investments and future successes. With our group's raw material supply capabilities and broad customer network across different geographies, we will contribute to Pastificio's growth and further expand its geographic reach." Ulusoy Un CEO Zahit Çetin also stated: "This investment will be one of the milestones of our sustainable growth strategy. We take justified pride in entering the pasta sector at the highest level. With the facility established in Italy and the expertise of the specialized team, we will continue to reinforce our strength by accelerating our presence in different areas of the food sector. We have acquired a company with an established brand heritage. We believe that with our vertical growth strategy in sectors where wheat, a fundamental human nutrition source, is used as raw material, we will create strong synergies."

"We are confident that together we will take our company to a higher level"

Regarding the acquisition, Pastificio Mediterranea General Manager Marco Ferraroni said: "We are excited to continue our journey with an important group that shares our company's values and objectives. We are confident that together we will take our company to a higher level," while Cerealto CEO Bosco Fonts stated: "We are confident that Pastificio has great opportunities for growth by benefiting from Ulusoy Un's vision, experience, and extensive global business network and customer base. We thank the Pastificio team for the excellent results they have achieved in recent years, the effort and commitment they have shown, and we wish them great success in their new future with Ulusoy Un."