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In 2018, the top ten grappa players had a total turnover of 214 million euros, three million more than the 2017 amount. million in revenues also proved to be the absolute protagonist in terms of year-on-year growth (+ 17%). In second position at 32 million euros is the confirmation of Distillerie Franciacorta, a company acquired in early February by Stock Spirits, already active in the grappa sector with the Julia brand. Distillerie Bonollo completes the podium, third with 26 million receipts.

In 2018, the growth of the grappa sector was hampered not so much by market problems as by the scarcity of raw materials originating from the 2017 harvest, a situation that should repeat itself next year but which certainly did not happen this year (since collection 2018 ready for 2019).

On the other hand, the margins of the companies considered in the study turned out to be more than positive, exceeding the 10% threshold in the ratio between ebitda and turnover. All the top four players (Bonollo Umberto, Franciacorta, Bonollo and Marzadro) obtained a double-digit percentage of EBITDA, even if the highest incidence is that of the tenth classified by turnover or the Piedmontese of Berta Distillerie, capable to reach 27% thanks also to the incoming activity organized in recent years with the opening of a grappa resort.

Grappa therefore appears to be a solid sector capable of offering its leaders the possibility of sustaining even difficult vintages such as the one linked to the 2017 harvest. The strategic lines have been clearly outlined. “Our focus – says Elvio Bonollo, Bonollo Umberto marketing and external relations director – remains the enhancement of the product, the sensory experience linked to grappa tasting, with the commitment and challenge of continuing to offer new products”. In addition, distilleries are trying to reduce third party production to invest in proprietary brands, as for example Berta did: “” In 2018 we reduced our presence in non-strategic areas such as production for private label, reducing revenues but without variations in margins ”, Chicco Berta affirmed.

https://wine.pambianconews.com/2019/09/ebitda-a-due-cifre-per-i-leader-della-grappa/186817

According to a research by “Pambianco Strategie di Impresa”, the 2015 turnover of the top twenty Italian companies specialized in the production of grappa is equal to 223 million euros compared to 225 in 2014. If we add the grappas of the smaller companies and non-specialized companies (those belonging to companies whose main turnover is linked to other products such as Stock and Branca) the total turnover should reach € 300 million per year, with approx. 20,000,000 bottles produced.

The distillate symbol of Italy would have excellent growth prospects related to exports, but the situation of the main companies in the sector is static, conditioned by the weakness of the internal market and its still dominant weight. There is also a very fast and dispersive production structure with over 140 distilleries, characterized by small numbers, with few important groups and many micro-distillers that appear to be in difficulty towards foreign markets.

There are only about ten companies that boast a turnover of at least € 10 million:

… Distillerie Bonollo di Formigine (MO), with a turnover of 33 Mn / €,
… Bonollo Umberto di Maestrino (PD), 33 Mn / €,
… Franciacorta Distillery, 27 Mn / €,
… Francoli, 24 Mn / €,
… Male Bonaventure, 19 Mn / €,
… Marzadro, 18 Mn / €,
… Nonino, 13 Mn / €
… Berta, 12 Mn / €
… Castagner, 11 Mn / €
… Nardini, 10 Mn / €

Seen positively, the situation of grappa is improving and the product now seems ready, from a qualitative point of view, to compete abroad with its most illustrious competitors such as whiskey, cognac and rum. According to data provided by Istat and revised by Assodistil, exports in 2016 increased by 5.2% and Elvio Bonollo, president of the National Grappa Institute, highlights the progress achieved in Russia and Eastern Europe, + 35% in the last six years, become a new reference point for exports in addition to the traditional German-speaking markets, which excel in Europe.

https://www.beverfood.com/mercato-grappe-140-distillerie-300-mn-fatturato-cui-25-all-estero-wd90003/

The Gran Galà Vitis 2014 was held in recent days in the splendid setting of Palazzo della Fonte in Fiuggi, promoted by the Italian Sommelier Association, which awarded excellence in Lazio by delivering to Mariacarla Bonollo, of the Distillerie Bonollo S.p.A. of Formigine (Mo), the award “Interpreting the Territory-Italianity in the world” with the following motivation: “Thanks also to the substantial contribution of the Anagni headquarters, today the largest distillery in Europe, Bonollo has wisely keeping up with the times, combining the production of excellent spirits with the most advanced known biotechnologies “.

The recognition was particularly appreciated as it attests to the efforts made by the company for the production of high quality brandies and for the dissemination of the culture and knowledge of grappa in the world, through the Documentation Center dedicated to the memory of the founder Luigi Bonollo.

https://anag.it/gran-gala-vitis-2014-il-p-remio-interpretare-il-territorio-litalianita-nel-mondo-a-mariacarla-bonollo/