FDBusiness.com

Italian food group Barilla has opened a new pasta sauce production facility in Rubbiano di Solignano, near Parma, following investment of more than Eur40 million. Despite the challenging economic climate, Barilla is demonstrating its strong ties and commitment to Italy and the country’s so-called ‘Food Valley’.

The new plant opening marks an important strategic step: after 40 years in which its sauces were produced with external partners, a plant dedicated to the principal accompaniment to pasta underlines the company’s desire to concentrate on its core business. Barilla wants to focus its resources on the growth of the Italian pasta dish throughout the world and of its branded bakery products in Italy and Europe.

The factory, which at full capacity will employ 120 people, produces 35,000 tons of sauces per year and has the potential production capacity of 60,000 tons. The tomatoes and basil, the main raw materials used for the sauces, are 100% Italian.

“The Rubbiano sauces plant is an example of an investment in quality inItalywith an international outlook,” says Guido Barilla, Chairman of Barilla Group. “While on the one hand, the ingredients, the recipes and the technology are Italian, the goal is to grow on foreign markets, taking the authentic Italian cuisine all over the world.”

The factory will produce 150 tons of tomato-based sauces and 50 tons of pesto-based sauces. The plant was designed according to the highest technological standards by a team of Barilla engineers and will be one of the most productive sauce plants in the world. In line with Barilla’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the site will produce 32% less CO2 and consume 47% less water than average sauce plants.