Italian food group Amadori has acquired Unconventional Srl, the plant-based foods subsidiary of dairy cooperative Granarolo, in a deal completed on May 8. The financial terms have not been disclosed.
The transaction gives Amadori full ownership of the “Unconventional 100% Vegetale” brand and a production facility in Coriano, near Rimini. The range spans burgers, patties, meat-free sausages, nuggets, cutlets, strips, ribs, and organic tofu products. All staff at the Coriano plant will transfer to Amadori, which employs more than 9,400 people across Italy.
Targeting the top three
CEO Denis Amadori framed the deal in terms of competitive positioning: “This acquisition represents a significant acceleration in our growth, enabling us to become one of the top three branded players in the plant-based processed foods sector. Unconventional 100% Vegetale enriches our offering with highly innovative products, responding to evolving consumer needs.”
Amadori, which already carries plant-based products under its own brand, plans to use its national logistics and distribution infrastructure to grow the Unconventional label while keeping production in Italy.
The Cesena-based group, founded in 1969, posted revenues of €1.72 billion in 2024 and holds around a 30% share of the Italian poultry market. It has been expanding beyond poultry in recent years, including a 70% stake in ready-to-eat specialist Forno d’Oro in 2023.
Granarolo refocuses on dairy
For Granarolo, the sale closes a chapter that began in 2020, when the cooperative established Unconventional as an in-house plant-based venture. The divestment comes shortly after a leadership change at the group, with Stanislao Fabbrino appointed chairman following the departure of Gianpiero Calzolari.
Fabbrino said: “With a view to simplifying our business model, we are focusing on the milk and dairy products market.”
