Conserve Italia restructuring - Brief Article - Buyers Guide

Eurofood, Oct 11, 2001

Conserve Italia, one Europe's major canned fruit and vegetable concerns also active in the fruit juice sector, is in the midst of re-structuring that may involve job cuts, leading to strikes at its three Italian plants. It operates 17 across Europe.

Labour went on strike over fears that between 700 to 800jobs would be lost in the re-organisation, but the Conserve Italia denied that its re-structuring involves dismissals to the degree claimed by the unions, without giving specific figures.

The concern employs 3 000 full-time workers and 8 000 seasonally. It said Conserve Italia needs changes in line with its international growth.

Conserve Italia, which is a co-operative with over 16 000 members, has plants in France, Germany the UK and Poland in addition to the ones in Italy. The plants process some 1.6 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables, generating a business volume of Lit2 300bn (l.18bn [European Dollar]).

Some of its brands include Valfrutta, Yoga, Derby and Jolly Colombani.