Barilla: 40 million euro for sustainability in 2016

2016 closed well for Barilla, with turnover of 3.41 bn euro (+2% over 2015). The year was also particularly successful in terms of investments, with the Emilian giant spending a 40 mn euro in R&D to improve the nutritional value of many of its products.

The company's sales figures are largely due to the European market, in which Barilla increased volumes by 4% and its turnover by 3%, thanks above all to its pasta and sauce products.

The domestic market remained stable, with the exception of health products (wholegrain, gluten free and multi-grain products, as well as the Mulino Verde and Wasa brands) which grew by double digits.

In the United States, where Barilla has two plants, it increased its market share by value to 31.4%, thanks to sales of classic products (pasta and ready meals) and its innovative Barilla Premium Pasta brand, which includes its gluten free, collection and organic pasta ranges.

Its greatest efforts went into the “Good for you, good for the planet” sustainability project, to which Barilla dedicated a large share of its budget. Since 2010, Barilla has reformulated around 360 of its products to improve their nutritional value and replace palm oil with lower fat vegetable oil. In the meantime, Barilla has introduced 17 new wholegrain products and expanded its gluten free and protein plus product ranges.