The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

Gourmet Italian Food has purchased Firma Italia from the Birolo family, a company specialising in dehydrated ready meals. The Birolo family will remain involved in the company as investors. Founded in 1995, Firma produces ready meals and offers a wide range of products such as pastas, risottos, soups, sauces and ethnic dishes. The company is said to have a turnover of approximately €30 million, with over 60% generated from international markets, especially in the US, where Firma has "an important commercial branch". Gourmet Italian Food was founded in June 2021 by Alcedo and FVS, through the combination of Eurochef Italia, owned by Alcedo, and La Gastronomica, owned by FVS. The acquisition will enable the integrated group to achieve a consolidated turnover of over €130 million in 2023. The deal is expected to bolster Gourmet Italian Food's position in premium gastronomy. By entering the market of dehydrated ready meals, the company aims to enhance its product range while also accelerating the process of expanding its presence worldwide. Filippo Nalon, partner of Alcedo, said: "The acquisition of Firma completes Gourmet Italian Food's offer thanks to its entry into the segment of quality dehydrated ready meals and accelerates the internationalisation process, where we are confident that the group has important development opportunities for the next few years". Silvano and Mario Birolo, co-CEOs of Firma, commented: "We are enthusiastically joining this group, which we believe represents the ideal landing point for the company, to which we will contribute with our almost thirty years of experience in dehydrated ready meals, the perfect complement to Gourmet Italian Food's current gastronomic offer, with the aim of also developing important commercial synergies, in particular in foreign markets where Firma has solid and long-standing relationships with the main large-scale retail brands”. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.