150 years of tradition servicing fruit and vegetables

"150 years of tradition servicing fruit and vegetables" With 150 years' experience servicing the fruit and vegetables sector, Di Lenardo is naturally orientating itself towards the new dimensions offered by global markets. Interview with M. Lucio Pizzo-Dugo, purchasing manager, met on last Macfrut show. Béatrice Durrieu : M. Bruno Di Lenardo, M. Lucio Pizzo-Dugo, M. Giovanni Dalle Fabbriche, as purchasing managers, could you briefly present the Di Lenardo company ? Lucio Pizzo-Dugo : Di Lenardo is a fruit and vegetables importer and wholesaler, especially for northern Italy. It employs some 120 people and makes a turnover of 150 million liras (75 million euros). Some years ago, bananas represented 60% of the turnover, but today, all fruit and vegetables contribute to the results. Béatrice Durrieu : What are your annual products as well as your import markets ? Lucio Pizzo-Dugo : We work with all traditional fruit and vegetables as well as exotic fruit and nuts. We import from Chile, Argentina, Central America, South Africa, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Australia, China and Turkey. Béatrice Durrieu : What are your customers' profiles ? Lucio Pizzo-Dugo : We work first with Italy's north east markets (Padova), but also with the country's other strategic centres, such as Rimini, Trieste, Trevise and Udine. We also serve all the most important markets of northern Europe like Austria, Slovenia and Croatia. Last, we have good trading relationships with large-scale distributors from northern Italy, but also in Milano and Torino. Among the international retail chains, there are Auchan, GJ, Pam, Conad, Rinascente, Lidl, Coop. GS, etc... Béatrice Durrieu : Could you illustrate Di Lenardo in few figures and explain to us what is your logistic strategy ?

Lucio Pizzo-Dugo : Di Lenardo' s central head office is occupying 21 000 square metres of which 10 000 m² are storing over 4 000 tons of fresh produce. Di Lenardo has also 4 fully equipped sales outlets and a commercial fleet of heavy vehicles that can transport up to 44 tons/daily. On a logistic level, we have computerised systems, cold stores and innovative packaging lines that allow us to serve the most varied distribution channels with customised solutions. We also have a unique system for ripening bananas and packaging machines to suit every customer requirement. Di Lenardo in few figures Activity : fruit & vegetables importer and wholesaler Turnover : 150 million Liras (75 million Euro) Imports coming from Chile, Argentina, Central America, South Africa, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Australia, China and Turkey Wholesaling facilities : 10 000 m² storing 4 000 tons of fresh produce