Alkemia SGR, with co-investment from Banca Ifis, has launched Food Excellence, a new private equity fund targeting Italy’s agri-food sector. The fund has established Convivio, an industrial holding company designed to consolidate leading domestic producers, with a focus on fresh pasta and ready meals.
The Italian market for these products surpassed €2.7 billion in 2025, driven by stable demand for high-quality food. Globally, the category is growing at a compound annual rate of between 3.3% and 7%, underpinned by rising interest in the Mediterranean diet. Despite this momentum, the Italian industry remains highly fragmented, characterised by small and medium-sized, often family-run businesses struggling to scale internationally.
Convivio aims to address this fragmentation by creating a national food platform with global reach. It launches with combined revenues of €27 million and is targeting €100 million within five years. The holding has already acquired five premium producers:
Valsugana Sapori (Trentino)
Parmachef (Emilia-Romagna)
Casanova Food, including the Pasta di Venezia brand (Veneto)
Pastificio Cecchin (Veneto)
Poggiolini (Tuscany)
In each case, the founding families and incumbent management teams will remain in place, providing continuity and preserving local expertise.
“We’re not just aggregating companies — we’re investing in the soul of Italian food,” said Luca Duranti, CEO and managing partner of Alkemia Capital SGR. “Our ambition is to build a centre of excellence that allows each brand’s story and strengths to thrive on the global stage.”
Convivio plans to invest in production capacity, marketing, and international expansion, positioning itself as a reference player in the fresh pasta and high-end ready meals category. Its portfolio will highlight regional Italian specialities and niche health-oriented products, including gluten-free and lactose-free offerings.
L’articolo Alkemia launches “Food Excellence” fund for fresh pasta and ready meals proviene da Italianfood.net.