Fusioni & Acquisizioni

📈 Gruppo Bauli celebrated the 28-year anniversary of saving the mother yeast "Futura" during a fire at the Castel D’Azzano facility on October 9, 1996, with the short film "1996 – La fabbrica sta bruciando" by Pietro Castellitto. Premiered on October 8 at UCI Cinemas in Verona to employees and press, the film is part of the campaign "Futura – La magia più attesa" and is available in 30 and 60-second trailers on digital platforms, TV, and cinema. The film is rooted in the brand's heritage, highlighting the Futura yeast as a symbol of enduring tradition and the company's soft, fragrant products, a process unchanged for over a century.

🚀 Renfe, the Spanish railway company, acquired a stake in Longitude (Arena group's holding) and plans to expand throughout Italy. Arenaways' first train will depart from Cuneo station, serving the Cuneo-Saluzzo-Savigliano line. By 2034, Arenaways aims to reach 350,000 passengers within ten years. Additionally, Arenaways intends to increase train frequencies and cover tourist routes including Novara-Varallo Sesia, Alessandria-Ovada, and Santhià-Arona.

✈ London City Airport turns a profit for the first time since the 2020 tourism crisis, reporting a positive gain of £6.6 million in 2023. After losses of £48 million in 2020, £45.5 million in 2021, and £1.1 million in 2022, the airport saw a revenue increase of over 20% to £102.6 million in 2023, with passenger traffic rising to 3.4 million from 2.9 million. However, this is still below the 2019 profit of £47.8 million.

📌 Avis Budget Group unveiled new products and offers at the 61st TTG Travel Experience in Rimini. Agencies can benefit from a 20% commission with Avis's Promo OverCommission or a 10% commission on Avis Flex. Maggiore introduced a specialized booking platform and line, providing constant assistance through a dedicated reservations center, Account Manager, and Sales Support Team.

🍕 Cigierre, an Italian leader in casual dining and franchising, highlights its strength at the Salone Franchising Milano. The company has nearly 60 franchisees with over 150 franchised locations. Old Wild West, a key brand, boasts over 260 outlets, with 20 internationally. Pizzikotto, with a recent opening in France, plans further expansion by 2025. Cigierre aims to open over 20 Smashie outlets in the next two years, targeting malls and urban areas.

🍜 Kioene, Italian leader in plant-based foods since 1988, dominates with its famous Mini Burger with spinach and caters to over 2.3 million families. Introducing a new tomato and olive Mini Burger recipe, Kioene aims to expand its market presence. Committed to quality and sustainability, the brand boasts a 30% market share and is a private label partner. The product line expansion is part of a strategy to attract diverse taste preferences and ensure a balance of flavor and nutrition.

✈ Qatar Airways proposes to acquire 25% of Virgin Australia's shares, aiming to reintegrate long-haul flights for the airline after their 2020 halt. Virgin Australia's CEO Jayne Hrdlicka suggests this would enhance competition, offer cheaper fares, and create more jobs. The acquisition could position Qatar Airways as a strong competitor against Qantas on international routes, pending regulatory approval.

✈️ Dan Air and Spazio GSA launched a partnership today, introducing new air connections between Italy and Romania. Spazio's Commercial Director, Francesco Veneziano, envisions expanding sales and Dan Air's brand in Italy. The network includes a Bacau-Torino route with two weekly flights, increasing to three during Christmas and new December routes to Rome, Bergamo, and Bologna. Dan Air CEO Matt Ian David highlights Spazio's experience ensuring efficient market success.

🗺 Italy remains a key market for Seychelles, maintaining its position as the fourth largest source of tourists for the archipelago after Germany, France, and Russia, with approximately 14,000 arrivals in the first nine months, matching the performance of 2023. Danielle Di Gianvito, the Marketing Representative of Tourism Seychelles in Italy, alongside Bernadette Willemin, the General Marketing Director, confirms the destination's appeal for exclusive experiences. Future prospects look positive, bolstered by cultural events like the Festival Kreol and the resumption of flights.

📍 Ita Airways is exiting SkyTeam smoothly and plans to join Star Alliance within 12 to 18 months. Antonino Turicchi, President of Ita Airways, ensures a seamless transition for customers. The loyalty program, Volare, with 2.45 million members, 64% of whom are Italian, will continue regularly. CEO Emiliana Limosani mentions the growth of commercial partnerships from 34 to 41 by year-end, highlighting a program for frequent flyers aged 2 to 16, which gained 6,000 members in a few months.