Barilla Group plans to increase its range of sustainability projects, as part of a €1 billion investment plan announced by the company this week.
In its annual sustainability report, Barilla said that its sustainable wheat project grew by 26% in 2017, with volumes going from 190,000 to 240,000 tonnes.
Ten new 'Better for You' products (including wholemeal, cereals) were launched in 2017, which feature a better nutritional balance.
These products already account for 8.4% of the total turnover and by 2030 Barilla aims to reach 30%.
Across Barilla's pasta production facilities, water consumption was reduced by 31% for each tonne produced and greenhouse gas emissions fell by 24%.
In addition, thanks to a new railway link in Parma, 3,300 trucks were removed from European roads, saving the equivalent of 1,100 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year.
2020 Goals
By 2020, Barilla aims to double the number of farmers involved in its sustainable agriculture programme from 5,000 to 10,000, doubling the sustainable grain volumes achieved in the Italian supply chain; and reduce CO2 and water emissions by 30% compared to 2010.
Barilla Group ended 2017 with a turnover of €3.46 billion (+3% vs. 2016), driven by sales of pasta, sauces and ready-made dishes which account for 53.9% of the company's sales. Bakery products were responsible for 45.6% of sales.
Overall, 45.3% of the sales were achieved in Italy, followed by Europe and Russia (31%), the Americas (19.4%) and Asia, Africa and Australia (4.3%).
Barilla operates 28 production sites, 14 in Italy and 14 abroad.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
