LA DORIA: STRONG RESULTS FOR 2023 TOMATO CAMPAIGN

Angri (SA), November 22, 2023 – La Doria Spa, the leading Group in the production of tomato-based products, sauces, pulses and fruit juices for the supermarket private labels market, has delivered strong results for the 2023 tomato campaign, with 4.2% more of the raw material processed than 2022, despite significant climate-related challenges and considerably higher raw material costs.

Even despite these issues, La Doria has in fact processed 250,000 tonnes of 100% Italian tomatoes compared to 239,400 in 2022. The Tomato Line – which includes Peeled and Chopped, Purée, and Cherry Tomatoes – is one of the core branches of the Group’s portfolio: La Doria is in fact the leading European producer of peeled and chopped tomatoes in the retail sector, generating sales in 2022 of Euro 224 million, up on Euro 180.7 million in 2021.

During the campaign, the tomatoes are harvested by 20 associations representing approx. 300 farms, with which La Doria has solid and ongoing relationships and which operate in Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Lazio and Molise, and then delivered and processed within 12 hours at the Group’s dedicated plants located in Angri, Sarno, Fisciano and Lavello in the Potentino area. About 800 seasonal workers were also employed for processing this year.

La Doria’s results are even more significant given the challenging environment for the entire industry nationwide, which saw a total of 5.4 million tonnes processed, down slightly from approx. 5.5 million in 2022 (-1.3%) and high production costs partly, due to the sharply rising price of the raw material.  The campaign this year started about 10 days late, mainly due to heavy rains in May and June, which delayed transplanting, and ended in the first week of November, a delay that impacted tomato availability.

“We are satisfied with the results achieved by the Group in 2023: we were aware of the uncertainties related to the tomato campaign due to weather unknowns and rising prices, but thanks to La Doria’s production capabilities and the solid relationships we have maintained with farms for many years, we were even able to improve on the 2022 results.” – stated La Doria Group CEO Antonio Ferraioli, who continued: “This milestone was achieved thanks to our sustainable and responsible integrated supply chain model, from seed to finished product. In this regard, we have also achieved important results on environmental sustainability projects related to Agriculture 4.0 and biodiversity development, as well as on the new ethical-social sustainability initiatives that have been launched.  It is important for us to work alongside our agricultural partners in projects that put the environment and people at the centre, through which we want to be promoters of the culture of legality and sustainability in agriculture in central and southern Italy.”

In fact, La Doria, through close collaboration and continuous discussion with partner suppliers, closely follows all stages of tomato cultivation, from sowing to transplanting, providing selected seeds and guaranteeing the quality, traceability and sustainability of the process also through agronomic consulting services.   The Agriculture 4.0 pilot project, thanks to sensors placed in the fields, allowed for the collection of data on elements of the atmosphere such as moisture and evapotranspiration, which were then processed with artificial intelligence with the aim of reducing water waste and limiting pesticide use: the application of Agriculture 4.0 techniques on the eight farms involved led to a 40% reduction in water use and a 20% reduction in pesticides. With the aim of promoting biodiversity, the Group also funded the creation of flower corridors on 13 farms near tomato fields to attract pollinating insects and birds, which are essential for the maintenance and well-being of the entire ecosystem.

On the ethical-social sustainability front, two new pilot projects were launched in 2023, demonstrating the company’s commitment to a responsible tomato supply chain. Specifically, the Working Hours Project, aimed at the digital tracking of working hours, has made it possible to monitor the working time of people engaged in mechanical harvesting on selected farms, protecting the interests of the workers themselves. In contrast, the Worker Voice Project gave voice to workers on 80 farms through specific questionnaires to ascertain working conditions and awareness of rights and regulations.

The Rosso d’Estate project was also confirmed this year, which involves young people from technical high schools in the area, giving them the opportunity for work experience on the farm during the tomato processing campaign aimed at hiring the most deserving people. Since the project began in 2010, 374 young people have been hired, including 66 on permanent contracts, including the 44 young people involved in the 2023 campaign alone, 12 of whom, at the end of the processing period, were placed on fixed-term contracts.

The Group intends to continue its sustainability initiatives over the coming years with the aim of involving even more workers and farms and having a significant positive impact on the tomato industry and the national agricultural system more generally.

La Doria Spa

La Doria Spa, held 65% by investment companies of the Investindustrial VII L.P fund, with the remaining 35% held by members of the Ferraioli family, is Europe’s leading producer of canned pulses, peeled and chopped tomatoes in the retail channel and among Italy’s leading producers of fruit juices and drinks. La Doria is also the leading producer in Europe of private label ready-made sauces. 2022 revenues totalled Euro 1.018 billion, of which over 97% generated by the private labels segment with the major domestic and international retailers.

For further details:

La Doria press office

Patrizia Lepere, Corporate Affairs & Communication Manager

Tel +39 081 5166260 – Mob 340/9673931 patrizia.lepere@gruppoladoria.it

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