Mario Gasbarrino and Francesco Pomarico join AP Commerciale’s Board of Directors

Following the Shareholders’ Meeting held on 2 September 2026 in Naples, AP Commerciale has announced theappointment of Mario Gasbarrino and Francesco Pomarico to its Board of Directors.

This operation strengthens an established governance structure, led by Cav. Giovanni Pomarico, Chairman of the Board, Antonio Apuzzo, Chief Executive Officer, and Immacolata Apuzzo, Executive Board Member.

Objectives

The appointment of Mario Gasbarrino at AP Commerciale will see him work alongside Antonio Apuzzo and within the company’s board with one very specific objective, namely to refine and strengthen the Sole365 brand’s EDLP model.

This activity will involve constant monitoring of market dynamics, so that AP Commerciale can develop and expand its sales network.

The appointment of Francesco Pomarico at AP Commerciale instead represents the natural evolution of a synergistic path begun years ago, built on ongoing discussions and deep mutual esteem with Chief Executive Officer Antonio Apuzzo.

Statements from the Chairman and Board Members

The development of the Sole365 brand, founded in Naples in 2013 also thanks to the decisive contribution of the joint venture with the Apulian Megamark Group, founded by Cav. Giovanni Pomarico, who comments: “This new structure represents a further tangible sign of our determination to make a difference in the market. The synergies in place with the Megamark Group and, consequently, our membership of the Selex purchasing group, the leading operator in Italy in the organised modern distribution sector, constitute the necessary driving force to establish our role as a leader. We are aware that maintaining this leadership among customers and stakeholders requires daily care and a forward-looking perspective. I am convinced that the appointment of Mario Gasbarrino and Francesco Pomarico will provide decisive momentum to consolidate our position.”

TheChief Executive Officer Antonio Apuzzo states: “With this governance structure, our company is preparing to enter a new phase characterised by healthy ambition. Mario Gasbarrino and I share the same values and the same strategic vision regarding the role of the brand, developed over years of discussions on alternative commercial models in modern grocery retail. We will work with Francesco Pomarico with continuity and in even closer contact, and it will be a pleasure to have him alongside us on the Board. I am honoured to welcome their outstanding expertise to our organisation. Our daily commitment goes beyond commercial success: we aim to be a responsible company, capable of creating lasting value for the community and for the people who are part of our organisation every day.”

The Executive Board Member Immacolata Apuzzo says: “I extend my warmest congratulations to Mario and Francesco and wish them every success in their work on our Board. Their vision will enrich a business project founded on corporate ethics and a deep bond with the local area. Our ambition is based on a corporate culture of absolute integrity and transparency, in the belief that only by building relationships based on genuine trust can we guarantee shared and lasting prosperity.”

The statements of the new members of the Board of Directors follow. Mario Gasbarrino shares: “This handshake represents a return to the past for me—or rather, a return to the sound origins of my career. I credit Antonio Apuzzo with being one of the few people who fully believed in the differentiating potential of the EDLP model in Italian modern grocery retail. Few of us fell in love with the every day low price dream, and there has always been a natural understanding between Antonio and me. AP Commerciale has done an extraordinary job in rigorously applying this model, which has made Sole365 a true Italian success story, born in Campania. I have achieved just as much in my professional life, but as a famous saying goes, ‘the best is yet to come’, because EDLP is not dead but destined to enjoy new seasons of success.”

Francesco Pomarico states: “I am deeply honoured to join the Board of Directors of AP Commerciale and this great entrepreneurial family. It is a particular source of pride for me to sit alongside Mario Gasbarrino, a manager and visionary whom I have long admired. This appointment has an even more special significance for me because, over the years, I have had the pleasure of sharing experiences and working on other projects with Cav. Giovanni Pomarico, Antonio and Immacolata Apuzzo—people and entrepreneurs whom I know and appreciate for the values, passion and vision with which they pursue their work. I approach this new responsibility with great enthusiasm, making my experience available and with the aim of making a concrete contribution to AP Commerciale’s growth and development.”

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.