Barilla, the Italy-based food group, is to invest in the world’s largest manufacturing facility for dry pasta.
A spokesperson for Barilla sketched out the company’s plans for the site, which is near the Italian city of Parma, although he declined to comment on a Reuters report the business planned to spend EUR50m.
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“There is a plan to invest, but final amount not approved yet. Investment is to enlarge the storage facility of the plant and make it more efficient.”
Data issued by Mintel last month claimed pasta consumption Italy has been declining. Mintel said retail per capita consumption of pasta in Italy stood at 15.2kg in 2016, down from 17kg in 2011. The researchers pointed to concern among consumers about carbohydrate intake.
In February, Barilla said it would invest “in excess” of EUR50m in the expansion of its pasta sauces plant in Rubbiano, in Italy’s Parma province.
Last month, the privately-owned Barilla posted a 2% rise in annual revenues to EUR3.4bn and said it was its better-for-you ranges which produced the fastest growth.
