A green business model makes it possible to stand out in the marketplace

"Short supply chain, tradition and high service content are just a few characterizing aspects that have contributed to the growth of our brand. As a matter of fact, year 2022 can be defined as the one in a year when we have boosted the development of a business model that aims at a real green revolution. Among the priorities are the respect for the environment and the consumer's health, starting from packaging made with eco-sustainable materials, to the use of renewable energy, with reduced waste in the work environment and with raw materials grown in a very short supply chain," said Paolo Licata, co-owner with his wife Flavia Fadda of the Sicilian company Campo d'Oro.

Over more than 30 years, Campo d'Oro S.R.l - a Sicilian company based in Sciacca (AG) and now in its second generation of entrepreneurs - has specialized mainly in the production and processing of agricultural products. Great attention is paid to the evolution of consumers' eating habits, which, on the wave of globalization, have crossed this market segment in terms of tastes and eating habits, in parallel with a return to local traditions.

The varied and versatile range of references include the product lines: Campo d'Oro, Campo d'Oro Bio, Villa Reale, Villa Reale Supreme and with the production of Pesti, Sughi Pronti, Paté, Creme Dolci and Marmalades preserves.

Short supply chain processed products-with specialties of the Mediterranean tradition side by side with innovative reinterpretations with the addition of PDO and PGI raw materials from the Sicilian territory-distributed in Italy and abroad in more than 32 countries and sold in specialized gourmet stores, delicatessens and duty free stores all over the world. This is thanks to a network of importers, distributors and wholesalers who widely promote the Italian culture of good food. The ingredients are all natural, some of which have been selected from Sicilian Slow Food presidia, such as Giarratana Onion, Nubia Garlic and Noto Almonds.

The new Campo d'Oro line includes three ready-to-use legume and cereal soups flavored with fennel; three sauces and two pestos in the flavors of basil, arrabbiata and puttanesca; vegan green pesto (basil, almond and extra virgin olive oil); and vegan red pesto with basil and tomato that are almost all sourced from the family farm and grown under organic farming.

"The need to treat oneself with healthy products and at the same time do good for the planet has now become part of consumers' awareness. Therefore, we are fully committed in this direction. It is essential to respond to this trend, given that consumers are increasingly informed and aware of what they bring to their tables. With this in mind, we offer sustainable products with high added value but low impact in environmental terms,” pointed out Paolo Licata.

Among the drivers of this growth, there is therefore undoubtedly the focus on the quality of raw materials, as well as the supply of healthy products grown in a sustainable way.

"These are aspects on which in the last three years we have invested a lot by running our own 120-hectare farm located between Sciacca and Castelvetrano (AG), where we grow vegetables, but we also have vineyards and olive groves. By combining agriculture and processing, we are able to close the supply chain and obtain high quality raw material, starting from field crops. Of course, production volumes over the years have multiplied; therefore, we also involve farmers from Sicily in the fresh produce sector," explained Paolo Licata.

With 74 percent of its sales made abroad, the Campo d'Oro brand is present in Europe, the U.S., Mexico, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and China.

"The best market is the U.S. where we have an established presence, thanks in part to the expansion of our historical headquarters in Chicago. Here our employees follow orders and deliveries to our customers with references, recipes and formats designed specifically for the various commercial channels of reference. We have noticed that the U.S. market appreciates quality and is sensitive to sustainable production with a strong demand for organic products as they are healthy for people and the environment. Here, among the flagship products, is the ready-to-use sauces line, in particular the norma sauce enriched with ricotta from Sicily."