Illva Saronno Holding
Is the parent company of the group which includes companies operating in the alcoholic beverages, wines, ice cream, baked goods and food flavorings sectors. Completely controlled by the Reina family, it has a coordinative role over several different realities.
It boasts over 700 employees and 32 subsidiaries, in Italy and abroad with a Total Turnover of 322€ Millions.
The companies
ILLVA SARONNO S.p.A.
Founded by the Reina family in 1947 but the family’s origins in the Saronno area date back to 1525. The company, an Italian-based multinational with a strong strategic business diversification, is a leader in the world of spirits and is present in over 160 countries. It is especially known for Disaronno, the world’s favourite Italian liqueur, as well as for other great prestige products such as Disaronno Velvet, Tia Maria, Rabarbaro Zucca, Artic Vodka, Rum P@blic, Isolabella Sambuca and Aurum; with the recently launched “The Busker” brand, the company also entered the rapidly developing Irish Whiskey market. It is also in charge of the distribution for the prestigious wine brands of the group: Corvo, Duca di Salaparuta e Florio.
The 3 subsidiaries
DISARONNO INTERNATIONAL B.V. – Amsterdam (Holland)
Born in 1992 and based in Amsterdam, Disaronno International B.V. is one of the three Illva Saronno branches in the world. It carries out import and distribution activities for Illva Saronno and Duca di Salaparuta products in Benelux and the USA as well as for third party brands such as Quintessential brands, Tito’s vodka, Barceló Rum, Nemiroff, American Beverage Marketers, Heaven Hill and Concepts on the local market.
DISARONNO INTERNATIONAL LLC. – Somerset-New Jersey (USA)
In 2014, Illva Saronno opened its own import company in New Jersey, a northeastern state in the USA with about 130 km of Atlantic coastline, not far from and well connected to New York City. Disaronno International LLC can count on a team of over 35 people promoting and selling its Spirits and Wines in the USA, specifically: Disaronno, the world’s favourite Italian liqueur, Disaronno Velvet, The Busker Irish Whiskey, Tia Maria, Rabarbaro Zucca, Corvo, Duca di Salaparuta and Marsala Florio.
DISARONNO INTERNATIONAL UK LTD – Bishop’s Stortford (UK)
Disaronno International UK is the new British branch based in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. It is fully responsible for the distribution, sale and marketing of Illva Saronno brands in the UK: Disaronno, the world’s favourite Italian liqueur, Disaronno Velvet, The Busker Irish Whiskey, Tia Maria, Corvo and Duca di Salaparuta brand Sicilian wines and Marsala Florio. The new subsidiary is also gearing up to introduce a series of new innovations that it will bring to the UK market in 2021.
ILLVA SARONNO FLAVOURS DIVISION – REAL AROMI
ILLVA SARONNO FLAVOURS DIVISION, formerly known as REAL AROMI, is a leading company in the production of natural extracts from spices and herbs and of natural flavourings.
Since its inception, besides being the main flavorings provider for ILLVA SARONNO Group, it has been the ideal partner for renowned national and international food industries that choose quality as the core value for their products and research and innovation as the driving force behind their development.
ILLVA SARONNO INNOVATION CENTER
Inaugurated in April 2014, the center is an entity in its own right, operating independently from the rest of the group and focusing on practical problem solving, optimizing costs, resources and time. It coordinates and supervises research for all Illva Saronno business sectors (liqueurs, ice cream, wines, baked goods, flavorings and natural extracts) through innovative approaches and ideas, with the aim of developing new products and accessing new markets by exploiting the group’s synergies.
DUCA DI SALAPARUTA
ROYAL OAK DISTILLERY
Royal Oak is a world class distillery producing Irish whiskey, proudly located on an 18th century estate in Ireland’s Ancient East region.
It is the house of The Busker Irish Whiskey, distilling all three styles of Irish whiskey – pot still, malt and grain – under one roof, the sole Distillery in Ireland doing it at this time.
SAGAMORE SPIRIT
Illva Saronno Holding holds a majority stake in Baltimore-based Sagamore Spirit and its distillery. The deal supports the long-term growth of both companies and strengthens Illva Saronno Holding’s presence in the United States. The acquisition also creates the opportunity for Illva Saronno Holding S.p.A. to expand their whiskey portfolio beyond The Busker Irish Whiskey into American rye whiskey.
Sagamore Spirit is a brand within Sagamore Ventures, the privately-held investment company that serves as the family office of Under Armour Executive Chairman and Brand Chief Kevin Plank. Founded by Plank in 2013 with Bill McDermond as minority owner, Sagamore Spirit’s American rye whiskies have earned more than 200 awards internationally, including World’s Best Rye Whiskey in 2019 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Purpose-forged with a mission to craft the world’s best Rye Whiskey, Baltimore-based Sagamore Spirit prides itself on in-state partnerships, including local grain and water sourcing, state-of-the-art distilling, and aging – all in Maryland.
STRADA FERRATA
In January 2024 Illva Saronno Holding S.p.A. has become the owner of a 20% stake in Albedo S.r.l.
Albedo S.r.l is a craft distillery, branded Strada Ferrata, founded in Seregno (MB) in 2019, specializing in the production of Italian-made whisky, with its first release expected by the end of 2024.
The agreement between Illva and RBC will support and expedite the development and expansion of the Strada Ferrata project, providing the necessary technical, commercial, and financial resources to establish the company as a key player in the emerging movement of Italian whisky producers.
The acquisition of a stake in Albedo S.r.l. gives Illva Saronno Holding the opportunity to expand its whisky portfolio, adding the Italian newcomer Strada Ferrata to its existing lineup, which includes the Irish whiskey brand The Busker and the American whiskey Sagamore.
Disaronno Ingredients is the new strategic asset of the Illva Saronno Holding company in the field of semi-finished products for Gelato and Pastries, baked goods and complementary products for Gelato stores.
Illva Saronno Holding’s interest in artisanal Gelato is the result of the company’s passion for Made in Italy excellence and the commercial intuition that led, in the ‘90s, to the acquisition of several leading companies in this strategic sector, including Prodotti Stella S.p.A. and Montebianco S.p.A..
VE.CO.GEL.
VE.CO.GEL. was founded in 1973 as a commercial expression of all the most prestigious manufacturers of machinery and semi-finished products for typical Italian artisanal ice cream. The ideals and values of the company have always been inspired by its vision: a “full-service Gelato”. High competence and professionalism allow VE.CO.GEL. to offer its clients a top-notch comprehensive service; the pristine, exquisite quality of raw materials and of the semi-finished products, the prestige of the finished products brands, the experience and expertise of its technical staff position VE.CO.GEL. Group above competing companies in the sector.
MODI ILLVA INDIA PVT.
Modi Illva India Pvt. Ltd. is a joint venture between Umesh Modi Group and Illva Saronno.
The company is present on the Indian market with Artic Vodka and entered the Premium Whisky category with the launch of “The Rockford Reserve” in 2011, followed by the launch of “Rockford Classic” in 2014. Today Rockford Reserve and Rockford Classic are the fastest growing super-premium brands on the Indian whiskey market. Additionally, to extend its product portfolio and enter the premium whiskey market, in 2017 Modi Illva launched “The Hawkston Noble Reserve Whisky”. With its portfolio of brands, the company crossed in 2020 the volume mark of 2 million cases sold.
CHANGYU CINA
Illva Saronno owns 33% of the Changyu group, Chinese leading company in the production, distribution and sale of wine and brandy in China with an annual revenue of around 800 million dollars. Illva Saronno worked with Changyu on the creation of the Wine City, a futuristic production site with a capacity of 60 million cases per year. Changyu promotes the wine culture in China through Chateaus, each dedicated to a different European wine region. One of such Chateaus, the Reina Castle, is dedicated to the eponymous family, owners of Illva Saronno. One of such Chateaus, the Reina Castle, is dedicated to the eponymous family, owners of Illva Saronno. The Wine City complex is located in Yantai, in the Shandong region, on the shores of the Yellow Sea and includes a highly advanced Innovation Center, a separate entity working independently from the rest of the group, for which it develops new technologies, new products as well as conducting researches on raw materials.