Italian company La Linea Verde, market leader for fresh convenience products in its own country, has opened a new production facility in the town of Hof bei Salburg, Austria, as part of a new joint venture with local partner Feinkost Leitinger International.
The venture, Ultrafrisch Salzburg, will develop and market fresh, ready-to-eat products, exporting them to a number of European markets including Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Croatia and Italy.
Its core business is expected to be fresh-cut fruit and ready meals, with other lines such as fresh sandwiches, paninis and wraps set to be added in the near future.
Massimo Bragotto, commercial director of La Linea Verde, commented: 'Through this joint venture we are expecting growth in turnover in Austria, as well as an expansion in our exports to neighboring countries through retail and other channels.'
Ultrafrisch Salzburg will provide the Italian company with an opportunity to develop new ranges of fresh convenience products, Bragotto added, and therefore to enter new and promising market segments, even in Italy itself.
'Investing is an indispensable requirement for a partner who wants to be competitive and at the cutting edge,' said Domenico Battagliola, vice-president and co-owner of La Linea Verde.
'We are bringing our knowhow, quality, flexibility and curiosity to this new entrepreneurial venture, as well as the guidelines that have distinguished our company's path to growth in the past 20 years when it comes to freshness and innovation.'
