The opening of the first sales branch in Shanghai represents for Granarolo, the most important agrifood operator with Italian capital (993 million euros turnover in 2013), a direct presence in an area with very interesting development and growth prospects. The company already exports UHT milk, mascarpone cheese and other cheeses (mozzarella) to China.
The Chinese market, in fact, over the past 5 years has recorded an average growth rate of foodstuff imports in excess of 20% and it is estimated that by 2018 it could become the largest import market of foodstuffs with a value exceeding 80 billion dollars.
The opening of the branch in Shanghai is also a first step towards further investment and development opportunities in the area and is part of a commercial development plan in the Chinese market, characterised by a significant demand for foodstuffs (milk and dairy products) that meet high standards, in particular in terms of food safety, as well as quality and authenticity.
The Granarolo Group represents the most important Italian milk supply chain directly owned by associated producers in the form of a cooperative. It in fact brings together approximately 1,000 milk farmers, an organisation for collection of the raw material from the cow sheds with 70 vehicles, 1,200 distribution vehicles that handle 750 thousand tonnes/year and serve daily more than 60 thousand sales outlets at which 11 million families buy Granarolo branded products.
In its laboratories, the Group performs daily analyses on the entire production chain, from raw materials to the finished product, in order to provide consumers with quality products and high safety standards. The controls are carried out by qualified international certification bodies and guaranteed by the International Food Standard (IFS), the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the EU organic food certification body (CCPB).
