The increase, at the Novi Ligure site in north-west Italy, has kicked off with an additional bottling line, the plant’s seventh, that will handle the Aperol brand exclusively. According to the brand owner, the factory will benefit from a EUR75m (US$80m) investment resulting in a further 6,500m2 added to its existing 60,700m2 production area.
As a result, production capacity for Aperol will double at the site, which is responsible for almost 30% of Campari Group’s total volumes.
“The expansion of the plant, which takes place 20 years after its opening, is a further confirmation of the positive growth trend [for Aperol] of recent years,” said CEO Matteo Fantacchiotti, who took over from Bob Kunze-Concewitz earlier this month. “We celebrate today a remarkable milestone, which confirms our commitment to generating value, continuing on our strategic path of growth and transformation, ready to face future challenges.”
As well as Aperol, the Novi Ligure facility, which is home to around 300 employees, also produces Cinzano and Crodino for the company, as well as Campari Soda.
Kunze-Concewitz closed his 16 years with the company at its AGM on 11 April, not before overseeing the $1.32bn purchase of the Courvoisier cognac brand from Beam Suntory in December.
