6 minute read
Refrigeration technology for the world’s retailers Epta
Recognised again as one of Italy’s best-managed companies, Epta is known throughout the global commercial refrigeration industry for its commitment to environmental impact reduction.
For the second year running, Italy’s Epta, the specialist in commercial refrigeration for retailers has been ranked among the winners of the Best Managed Companies, the prestigious award promoted by Deloitte that enhances the excellence of Italian businesses.
Epta was seen as distinguishing itself in several ways, including investments in the growth of talents and focus on innovation. The jury particularly appreciated the second edition of EPTAcademy, the training programme developed in association with SDA Bocconi School of Management dedicated to refining middle management skills. Also noted was Epta’s innovative FTE technology at the heart of the Life-C4R project, co-funded by the European Union, created to raise awareness within the scientific community and component supply chain as well as all players within the retail world to choose increasingly sustainable solutions, accelerating the spread of highly efficient CO2 refrigeration units.
Marco Nocivelli, President and CEO of the Epta Group said: “I am very proud to have received this award for the second year running. It confirms our work and bodes well for the future, as evidence of the solid foundations that we have laid and of the continuous improvement, which we are always striving to achieve. I would like to thank all those who, with their commitment, have enabled us to obtain this important award.” Worldwide reach
In its 20 years of experience in commercial refrigeration, Epta has made a name for itself in the world thanks to a solid industrial culture, great competitive strength and the Group’s significant presence worldwide in numerous business areas. Today the Group offers the widest and most comprehensive range of solutions for commercial refrigeration, ensuring the supply, installation and maintenance of systems, both directly and through an extensive network of distributors worldwide. EPTA Group also has a strong presence within the Food & Beverage market, working in partnership with major players in the sector.
The Epta Group today operates eleven plants in Europe, the USA, South America and East Asia and is present in 80 countries across the world. Through the integration of the specific product lines offered by its brands, Epta ensures a vast variety of solutions for the preservation and display of fresh and frozen products, designed for retailers who want to rely on a single, competent partner for the realization of structured, turnkey systems on a global scale.
Brands for the whole market
The original core brand of the Epta Group is Costan, a business that started out in 1946 as an artisan’s workshop for the production of ice boxes and refrigerated cabinets. It is now known internationally for its technologically advanced and reliable products (which include
complete service and turnkey systems). The brand is distributed by a sales network that includes branches in Italy and sales offices and distributors abroad.
The Bonnet Névé brand was acquired by Epta in 1988 in the context of a merger between two important brands in the French market, Bonnet Réfrigération and Satam Névé. Eurocryor, founded in 1991 in Solesino, Italy, designs high-end serve-over refrigerated cases to furnish and customise prestigious stores and specifically meet the functional and aesthetic requirements of clients.
The Misa brand joined Epta in 2011 and is now a market leader in the production of commercial and industrial cold rooms. Misa has allowed the Group to create new opportunities in the HoReCa sector.
Iarp is a brand specialized in the production of customised selfcontained (plug-in) refrigerated cabinets. It became part of the Epta Group in 2013, bringing outstanding technical know-how to the Group. Its contribution ensures business diversification and excellent completion of the Epta supply chain and opens the doors to the Food & Beverage industry.
Technological innovation is the hallmark of our production, which is focused on ensuring energy conservation and significant environmental impact reduction through the use of F-Gas compliant natural refrigerants. In addition, the Group ensures the highest degree of customisation so that each product stands out, wherever it is installed, in terms of style, modernity and functionality, while adapting to the style and needs of the store.
Expansion in Poland
At the end of 2019 Epta’s continued its strategy for international development, with the acquisition of Linus Eco sp.z.o.o. in Poland, a company that designs, installs and provides after-sales assistance for refrigeration systems, including those with natural refrigerant CO2 , for the Food Retail segment. Based in Bosutów, in the Krakow area, Linus Eco has made a name for itself in the area as a reliable partner for the biggest local and foreign players in Retail.
This development consolidated the Group’s direct presence in high-potential countries such as Poland and came in the wake of the establishment of Epta Polska in 2017 through the acquisition of Libre Sp.z.o.o.Sp.K.
“We are proud to welcome Linus Eco into the Group. This strategic deal will allow us to be more competitive together and help us to stay closer to our customer base in Poland,” said Marco Nocivelli at the time of the announcement. “The agreement confirms Epta’s intention to increase its presence in Central and Eastern Europe. Since 2011, the company has been working in Hungary with Epta International technical and commercial coordination centre. It has since developed further with the acquisitions of Libre in 2017 in Poland, followed by DAAS in 2018 in Romania. Thanks to Linus’s capabilities, Epta expects to further consolidate its market share in these areas, which are set to yield considerable growth.”
Strengthening in the USA
In February 2020 Epta announced a further expansion of its US business Kysor Warren with an investment plan of more than 27 million dollars. This is an ambitious programme destined to strengthen operations at the Kysor Warren site in Columbus, Georgia, optimise customer service, expand the range of products and implement cutting-edge solutions. A new training centre is also planned for installers, contractors and service technicians dedicated to natural and sustainable refrigeration.
Following entry into the Epta Group, Kysor Warren has greatly enriched its portfolio, which now includes the range of propane and FTE Full Tanscritical Efficiency integrated group cabinets – a simple and reliable solution which guarantees 10 per cent energy saving in any climate area. Furthermore, Kysor Warren has opened a new plant of over 32.500 m2 in the Corporate Ridge Business Park (Georgia) which will become the new North-American headquarters of the Group. n
