Gianluca Paulillo is the new general manager of Latterie Vicentine

Latterie Vicentine appoints Gianluca Paulillo as the cooperative’s new general manager.

The decision was officially announced by the board of directors and marks the handover from Piero Cerato, who is leaving the position ahead of his upcoming retirement but will remain with the company, retaining responsibility for sales management.

Gianluca Paulillo’s career history

Gianluca Paulillo joined Latterie Vicentine in September 2021, initially taking on the role of management control manager, then becoming cfo, and in 2023 he was already serving as deputy general manager.

In recent years, he has closely overseen Latterie Vicentine’s main strategic projects: from the industrial plan to expand the Bressanvido production site, to the acquisition of Latterie Venete, on whose board of directors he now sits as a board member.

“My commitment will be to ensure continuity in the company’s development already under way, with an ever-stronger focus on the efficiency and effectiveness of processes, bringing the new industrial investments fully on stream and continuing the integration with Latterie Venete,” declares Gianluca Paulillo. “I will work tirelessly to achieve the main objective, which will always remain maximising the remuneration paid to our members for their milk. I am convinced that the most important results stem from the ability of a cohesive team to share a strategic vision and pursue common goals: these are the foundations on which we will continue to build Latterie Vicentine’s future, enabling it to grow further and take its rightful place among the leading companies in the dairy sector.”

Strength lies in the team

The management team now also includes, alongside Gianluca Paulillo, Federico Merlo, appointed deputy general manager as well as administrative director, Piero Cerato as sales director, and Michele Casarotti as technical director.

"During the years of our cooperative’s major strategic investments, from the expansion of the Bressanvido site to the acquisition of Latterie Venete, Gianluca has been a key figure, and I am certain that he will be able to lead Latterie Vicentine with the same expertise and vision. Today’s market is complex and there will be no shortage of challenges to address, but I am convinced that Latterie Vicentine has the team, ability and tools to tackle them with the same determination that has always distinguished this cooperative,” says the president of Latterie Vicentine, Alessandro Mocellin.

“In this scenario, the key is solid, forward-looking planning: it is the tool in which we want to continue investing with ever-greater focus. This change at the top also fits within this approach, the result of a precise plan developed over time,” concludes Mocellin.

Expansion phase

The change at the top comes at a time of full expansion for the Vicenza-based cooperative. The 2025 closed with total revenue of 128 million euros (+9,4% compared with 2024) and an increase in the remuneration paid to members for their milk, with the dividend rising to 70,10 euros/hl.

These results are generated by the 200 farmer members from the provinces of Vicenza, Padua, Treviso and Trento, who deliver the raw material to the cooperative’s two production plants. In the first months of 2026, Latterie Vicentine also completed major strategic investments – including the new Grana Padano Dop production site, the expansion of the ageing warehouse and packaging centre – and finalised its entry as a controlling member of Latterie Venete, an operation that further broadens its industrial and commercial prospects.

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.