In a sector such as that of pork, strongly characterized by a raw material that 35 per cent is imported from foreign markets such as the German, Dutch and Spanish ones (Coldiretti has denounced in the past that one out of three ham produced in Italy is with important thighs from abroad) comes the interesting announcement of the birth of a 100% Italian pork supply chain, which guarantees, certifies and traces every stage of processing of the finished product: from the birth of the animal to the marketed product, elements that they perfectly match the objectives of protection, enhancement and promotion of the made in Italy product.
The operation was inaugurated by the historic Piedmontese Salumificio Franchi, active since 1924, and OPAS (Organisation of Pig Breeders Production), the most important Italian network in the pork supply chain, which ratified an important partnership through a reciprocal capital purchase operation social: Alimentagri, controlling shareholder of Salumificio Franchi, acquires 10% of OPAS and at the same time OPAS enters the share capital. The objective responds precisely to the dual objective: on the one hand, to guarantee an ever greater outlet for Italian pink meat on the national market and from 'other consolidate and certify the quality of Franchi products also through the participation of OPAS in the company.
Salumificio Franchi was founded in 1924 in Grignasco Valsesia by Francesco Franchi and then settled at the end of the 70s in Borgosesia, the company's current headquarters. Product and process innovation, quality in the choice of raw materials have always been the components of the success of Franchi brand sausages, which have been leaders in the reference sectors for almost a century. Today the Borgosesia salami factory is present in the gluten-free segments of Piedmont Salami PGI, Cacciatore DOP, Salame Napoli and Cooked Ham. The partnership with OPAS will allow the historic salami factory to further develop the segments of casings, raw hams and mortadella both with certified and traced 100% Italian meat supply chains and through subsequent aggregations. “In July 2020, Alimentagri acquired 100% of the Franchi salami factory, an operation that allowed the historic brand to start a new growth path that will lead it to a turnover of 2024 million euros in 25.
OPAS is the largest product organization in Italy (12% of Italian pig farming) capable of raising heavy and intermediate pigs by planning and diversifying supply chain supplies in favor of commercial distribution requests. It develops the activity mainly in the slaughtering and sale of pigs contributed by the members (who are obliged to contribute at least 75% of their production according to the community legislation of the product organisations). OPAS members come from the major productive areas of Italian agriculture: regions notoriously with a zootechnical vocation in our country. OPAS is based in Mantua and carries out its activities in the Carpi plant. Opas' annual budget is around 300 million euros and it employs a workforce of over 600 people every day who come from over 25 different ethnic groups in the world and are perfectly professionally trained and integrated into the Emilian social fabric.
"This operation fits perfectly into the development plan that we immediately launched in July, following the rescue operation that allowed a historic Italian brand to once again become a protagonist in the Italian sausage market - declared Antonio Posa, Managing Director of Franchi – the partnership with OPAS allows our company to be hand-in-hand with the most important integrated national network of pink meat. For a brand like ours, the quality of a 100% national certified, traced and guaranteed raw material in every aspect is essential. Our consumers must be aware that each of our products is the result of the integration of the best practices existing today in this sector.”
“The breeders who adhere to Opas – underlines Valerio Pozzi, CEO of Opas – have always set up their entrepreneurial activity in full compliance with the rules relating to animal welfare, the protection of natural conditions and guarantee a product with high organoleptic characteristics that distinguish the pink pork meat from the red one of the cattle and the white one of the poultry. Furthermore, these values are certified and updated annually in the environmental balance drawn up by Opas to concretely testify and guarantee the consumer that he has a quality product available on his table. The supply chain that from today is going to be integrated with the Franchi salami factory is therefore an operation that further intends to be to the advantage of the final consumer”.
