Caprotti, like Marelli (to whom they would later be related), were undoubtedly forerunners, and in many ways can be counted among the ‘unexpected entrepreneurs’ because they present aspects of modernity, of planning, of ideas that we would not have suspected in people who have been producing textiles since the days of looms in peasant homes, and are therefore concerned with a cold and impersonal thing called ‘progress’
Today, Giuseppe Caprotti is also the president of the Guido Venosta Foundation, his maternal grandfather. The foundation was established with the aim of spreading the highest ideals of culture and solidarity and is actually involved in four areas: health protection and scientific research, solidarity, promotion of culture, environmental protection
Giuseppe has contributed significantly to the development of the family business. After graduating in Contemporary History from the Sorbonne in Paris in 1986, with a thesis on the political and economic situation in Alto Adige published by Franco Angeli, Giuseppe embarked on a career in the retail sector. In 2004, after a period of collaboration with his father, Giuseppe was dismissed from the company. Subsequently, he assumed the presidency of the Guido Venosta Foundation. In 2023, he published the book ‘Le Ossa dei Caprotti’, published by Feltrinelli
One of the many fairy tales found on the web has it that we were inspired by the New York State chain (base. Rochester) to develop the Esselunga superstores: not so, our model was influenced by my experience working at Dominick’s in Chicago.
The above information reflects Giuseppe Caprotti’s significant role in the Italian retail world and the complex family dynamics that influenced both his personal and professional life
A book not to be missed. Admirable honesty in the narration and the delicacy reserved for the father anyway
At OSA 360, the biggest event for entrepreneurs in Milan, I had the pleasure of telling an audience of more than 2,000 entrepreneurs, producers and retailers about the origins of Esselunga and all the innovations I introduced in the company up to 2004, inspired by the themes of my book ‘Le Ossa dei Caprotti’. It was exciting to share this vision, which continues to evolve through the initiatives of the Guido Venosta Foundation
From the missed national champion of the 1960s, with GS – Esselunga, to the multi-regional companies of today. The opportunities missed by Italian large-scale retailers in e-commerce but also in the acquisitions that foreign retailers are making instead
