When interviewed by Industry Europe a few years ago, Sofidel said that it intended to become the number-two producer in Europe for tissue-related products and this is indeed what it has done, as Barbara Rossi finds out.
ON TARGET FOR GROWTH
T
he origins of the Sofidel Groupdate back to 1966, when the business was first established in the Lucca area of northern Tuscany (Porcari), where Sofidel’s headquarters still are. Diversification started in the 1980s, and 1987 was a landmark year, as it saw the launch of Sofidel’s flagship brand: Regina (Queen). Evolution did not stop here, as the company carried on with its growth, which has led to it becoming a group with 28 produc-
tion sites and 28 companies in 12 countries Italy, Spain, Sweden, the UK, Belgium, France, Croatia, Germany, Poland, Greece, Turkey and the USA. As well as being the second largest tissue-related producer in Europe, Sofidel ranks at number six worldwide. With its 4800 employees, it has achieved a consolidated turnover of approximately €1588 million. A major contributor to this growth has been Sofidel America, established with the acquisi-
tion of Cellynne, a tissue paper producer in the away-from-home and consumer sectors, headquartered in Haines City (Florida), and with another two US-based plants. This move has allowed Sofidel’s annual production capacity to rise over one million tonnes. Sofidel carries out an integrated cycle at its production sites, from tissue production to manufacturing processes, through to the finished product. This cycle starts with the Industry Europe 217
