Mutti: 563 million in sales, including more than half from exports

The Mutti Group, whose products are available in around 100 countries worldwide, announced in the Italian press that it will close 2022 with total sales of EUR 563 million, up 16% on 2021. This success has occurred in parallel with the completion of a number of industrial investments valued at EUR 32 million, aimed at further improving the Group's quality, efficiency and safety indexes.

 "The serious exogenous factors – from drought to rising raw material and energy costs – that marked 2022 have not affected our growth trajectory. Our healthy uncompromising growth has always focused on what sets us apart: quality," said Francesco Mutti, CEO of the company of the same name. "By putting us to the test, 2022 highlighted the assets of our company: solidity, a dynamic attitude, resilience and the capacity to successfully meet and overcome adversity. So we're ready to face 2023, which promises to be just as complex and demanding. More generally, we need to rethink, at a nationwide level and in a radical and profound way, our whole water policy for the coming years. Our approach should not only focus on the present situation, but also look forward to the future. Our construction projects must ensure that the water that continues to fall is retained and not wasted. It has been clear for some time that the water emergency is a problem that can no longer be underestimated, especially as solutions to the problem are not immediately forthcoming."

Exports exceed 50% for the first time
Mutti's solid leadership of the tomato products market in Italy and Europe is underpinned by a market share of 33.7% in Italy (higher than the sum of the market shares of its three strongest competitors) and 15% in Europe.

Exports are particularly important in relation to 2021: for the first time, the proportion of sales generated abroad – around EUR 286 million – represents 51% of total sales, and exceeds the amount generated in Italy itself, which stands at around EUR 277 million (and 49% of total sales). Similarly, the distribution of volumes, which total 335,000 tonnes, follows and consolidates the same pattern, with an increase in the quantities sold abroad, of approximately 190,400 tonnes this year, which should be compared to the 144,600 tonnes sold throughout Italy.

Mutti is now the market leader in seven European countries: France, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Slovenia and Italy. In Germany, where the company opened its fifth branch in January 2022, the brand is consolidating its position, now occupying the markets second-highest place. Growth outside Europe has continued in Australia and the USA.

The impact of the increase in energy prices (+147%) and gas (+217%)
2022 was a year marked by the rising costs of electricity, gas and raw materials, as well as by uncontrollable external variables which had a significant and unavoidable impact on the company and the entire industry, especially considering that the peak in energy costs occurred during the summer, the busiest period for companies in the sector.
According to figures provided by Mutti, the cost of energy has risen by 147% and gas by 217% compared to the previous year, once the substantial subsidies received from the State are taken into account, while glass and tin used for packaging have increased by over 40% and 60% respectively. On the other hand, thanks to the company's constant commitment to passing on the aforementioned costs to the end consumer as little as possible, there was only a slight but necessary increase in shelf prices – equal to a few tens of euro cents – which inevitably led to a penalty in terms of volumes produced.

Source: corriereortofrutticolo.it