Esselunga’s operating result

One of the many stories that have circulated about me is that I would have brought Esselunga poor financial results for 2003 and that this would have led to my removal. Nothing could be more untrue. If you look at the numbers, you can see that the 2003 Ros, compared to that of the early 1990s, was decidedly better, thanks in part to careful management of contracts with suppliers (see the example of Barilla) and to the negotiations carried out in the ESD Centre

The Caprotti family at a distance: Luigi and Giuseppe Caprotti, explorers and traders in Sanaa (Yemen), 1880 – 1918

The brothers Luigi and Giuseppe Caprotti were born in a suburb of Besana Brianza (MB) in the mid-19th century. Luigi was the first to arrive in Yemen, settling in the capital Sanaa. Among the very few Westerners resident, he was the first to establish fruitful contacts with the local population, which his brother Giuseppe continued for over 30 years after his death

Caprotti and the Coop: Turiddo Campaini, an ‘enemy’ and a master

'The experience in Florence is a great school for me also because the opponent we faced was, at the time, one of the most efficient and competitive: the Unicoop administered and managed by Turiddo Campaini. An aggressive Coop with a strong local policy, efficient and market-oriented. Tuscan products are the norm but there is no shortage of Chinese ones, for the large community distributed between Prato and Campi Bisenzio

Marco Brunelli, Caprotti’s friend – enemy

The entrepreneur who was to become one of the protagonists of large-scale distribution in Italy was born as an antiquarian, and one of the most highly regarded in Milan. His was the organisation of a memorable exhibition at the Villa Reale, in 1955, dedicated to the 'Venetian 18th century'; among the lenders of the works were the most beautiful names in the city and beyond, including my grandmother Marianne [Maire in Caprotti]. And among the most important art collectors of the period who were also Brunelli's clients was James Hugh Angleton, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy.

Ercole Marelli and Manifattura Caprotti: first industrialists, then relatives

The comparison between Ercole Marelli and Manifattura Caprotti highlights not only the differences in industrial sectors - Marelli, founded in 1899, operates in the electromechanical sector, Caprotti, founded as an industry in 1840, operates in the textile sector -, but also how both represent significant histories of Italian industry, and exploring their stories offers interesting insights into economic and social dynamics in Italy.

Modern Proximity: medium-sized supermarkets drive the market

The supermarket and discount segment with sales of between 801 and 1,500 square metres achieved a turnover of EUR 40 billion. A value that is not only significantly higher than the other formats, but which unequivocally confirms that it is precisely in this size range that the most important game within the large-scale retail trade is being played out