Dalterfood Group has generated 85% of its turnover overseas, with Dalter UK accounting for €47m in sales – an increase from €41.3m in 2022.
The dairy manufacturer boasts 388 products and 1,500 customers in the professional food industry, food service, large-scale retail and normal trade across 32 different countries.
Alongside the UK, France, Spain and Germany were also key players for Italian cheeses, with the group’s Italian arm, VIP Italia, witnessing sales rise from €53.1m to €61.5m between 2022-23.
Against a backgrop of growth, Dalterfood Group has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability, investing €1.725m in 2023/24 into several energy-related projects. This includes the installation of photovoltaic plants at its two dairy farms, both in the mountains – the Colline di Selvapiana e Canossa factory and the Colline del Cigarello e Canossa factory – and at the group’s production plant, along with the new air conditioning systems.
Andrea Guidi, Dalterfood Group’s general manager, said that despite economic headwinds things are looking positive: “Even though the macroeconomic scenario is still complicated, DalterFood Group has reported another year of significant growth. In terms of the Group, our performance, and particularly by our sister companies in the UK and Germany, is positive and in line with market trends in all the countries where we operate, confirming our ability to meet the needs of operators in retail, the food industry and food service.”
Guidi cited the producer’s “extensive experience” which spans more than 45 years as a key factory in its ability to offer a wide range of products that deliver to the market demands of increased traceability and sustainability.
“One example of how we actually demonstrate these values is our controlled, integrated and sustainable Parmigiano Reggiano supply chain, which is animal welfare certified according to the ClassyFarm protocol. The collaboration with our milk suppliers will also continue for the next few months, aimed at increasing the level of animal welfare at livestock farms and maintaining this certification.”
He added that the group will also be continuing activities to maintain other certifications for its production plant and dairy farms, including BRC, IFS, FDA, Mountain Product Quality and organic.
“Furthermore, we will continue our sustainable packaging programme and our ongoing renewable energy project with the goal of completing the solar panel installation plan at the Sant’Ilario d’Enza factory and at the Cigarello e Canossa dairy farm which, along with the panels already up and running at the Selvapiana dairy farm, will mean we produce about 20% of our required energy by 2025,” he continued.
Alongside its rises in volumes and sales, the group has seen an increase in employees, now standing at 181. The group has been focused on inclusivity and fair working by establishing a gender equality steering committee. Of its 181-strong team, 82% have an open-ended contract, and over half are aged between 30 and 50 years old.
In other news, the food-to-go market has been valued at more than £48.2bn.
