Penny Italia: new store in Pieve a Nievole (Pt), the first with a wooden load-bearing structure

Penny Italia has opened a new store of approximately 1.400 sq m in Pieve a Nievole (Pt), on Via Colonna, built on the former Minnetti industrial site.

The project

The opening in Pieve a Nievole is a significant milestone in the development of the brand: for the first time in Italy, Penny has built a store with a wooden load-bearing structure, using a design solution developed specifically for this building.

The project gives a new function to a long-unused production area, at the entrance to the town centre and close to the connection between the Sr 435 Lucchese and the Sr 436 Empolese. The project concerns land that was already urbanised and also includes works for the local area: a new connecting road, a public car park, green areas and charging points for electric vehicles.

The exterior

Wood is the building's distinctive feature and concretely reflects Penny's desire to experiment with new solutions in the development of its network. 240 cubic metres of wood were used for the structure, including 125 cubic metres of Clt panels and 115 cubic metres of glulam timber. According to the calculation prepared by Stora Enso, the Clt panels used store 95,25 tonnes of CO2. The project also incorporates a rooftop photovoltaic system, high-efficiency systems, low-consumption lighting and technologies aimed at reducing energy consumption and emissions.

The project is the result of diverse expertise: Alpenos handled the detailed design and construction of the wooden structure and roof, while Stora Enso and Mak Building contributed to supplying the Clt panels. The use of prefabricated elements also made it possible to optimise assembly operations and limit work on site.

The offering

The connection with the local area continues inside the store, with an assortment that combines Penny's value with the promotion of local produce. The fruit and vegetable section features a range of Tuscan products; the served food counter offers regional specialities alongside the national selection, while in the Bake Off area bread is baked several times throughout the day and complemented by fresh bread from a Tuscan supplier.

The Penny Self-Service Butcher's, the Hot Food Counter and an assortment designed to meet a range of everyday needs complete the shopping experience. The grocery section combines major national brands with Penny-branded products, along with gluten-free options, international products and items from the Welless range. Frozen foods and dairy products complete an offering built around quality, choice and value.

The comment

“Every new opening is first and foremost the beginning of a relationship with the local area that welcomes us,” says Filippo Ferruzzi, national sales manager, central-northern area of Penny Italia. “Pieve a Nievole is an important project for us because it combines the redevelopment of an existing space with experimentation with a new construction solution for PENNY. It is in this spirit that we are arriving here: with a store designed to offer quality and value every day, and with a team ready to become part of the community.”

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.