Crisis at Columbus; sales attempts at a standstill

27/02/2020

François-Xavier Branthôme

Italy,

WPTC

According to the Italian press, which relayed the remarks of the Regional Councilor for Agriculture Simona Caselli on 11 February 2020, “All possible attempts to save Columbus continue, by seeking to pursue production operations, in order to avoid a significant social impact on the territory. Currently, it is vital to take care of the situation of the employees, with appropriate social measures with regard to the outcome.” Such were the words of the Councilor during an institutional round-table organized to discuss safeguarding the activity of the processing company, which employs up to 300 people, permanent and seasonal.

For the moment, no solution has yet emerged that can guarantee the start of the next tomato processing season for Columbus: "To date, we can only note that the sale or rental of the business to another player in the food-industry sector – the only prospect for maintaining operations and employment – has not materialized. We will therefore continue to work so that production is not interrupted and this important center of employment in the agrifood sector in Emilia-Romagna can be preserved.”
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