After the farewell to the Stock Exchange, Parmalat it is preparing to be dismembered and reorganized under French banners, losing all forms of independence and autonomy. lactalis – the giant which in December rose to 95% of the Italian group, then launching a residual takeover bid through the subsidiary Sofil which should go well – it is preparing to dismantle what was once the largest Italian food group.
Parmalat's headquarters, therefore, will no longer be in the historical site of Collecchio, but a Laval, the Loire city from which Lactalis rules his milk empire.
Not only. Parmalat will be articulated into nine divisions (three of products – Cheeses, Ingredients and Fresh Products – five geographical ones plus one dedicated to exports) and each will be headed by a French manager. As for Parmalat's subsidiaries in the various countries, they will close hierarchical relationships with Italy to be welcomed under the umbrella of the French parent company.
Parmalat Italia will also come merged with Lactalis Italia, the company that has so far managed the other French businesses in Italy, starting with Galbani, acquired 13 years ago.
What impact will all this have on employment? It's still early to tell. Marc Besnier, the owner of Lactalis, who started climbing Parmalat in 2011, hasn't fired anyone yet. However, now that the Collecchio headquarters has lost its managerial role within the group, the future of the approximately 80 managers assigned to the corporate function (with related staff) could be at risk.
Not to mention that the geographical unification with Galbani under the banner of Lactalis Italia it will also bring with it a duplication of functions, which the French will probably want to dispose of in order to simplify the management of the companies.
Thus officially ends the Italian story of Parmalat, founded in 1961, ruined by its founder Calisto Tanzi, saved by Enrico Bondi and finally, after an eight-year climb, bought by the French milk emperors.
