Video: Mastrolia (NewPrinces), interest in Realco has changed. Here’s why

A group that in just a few years has changed its identity, size and ambitions. NewPrinces – the Reggio Emilia-based company led by chairman Angelo Mastrolia, formerly known as Newlat Food – closed the first quarter 2026 with consolidated revenues of 1,5 billion euros, more than double those of the same period of the previous year (+122,5%), and Adj. Ebitda up by 21,3%, to 76,5 million euros, with the margin rising to 5,1% from 3,9% in Q1 2025. These figures describe, even before an operating performance, the scale of the transformation under way. The leap in scale is the result of an intense acquisition drive. In 2025, the group completed three transactions in quick succession – Princes Ready to Drink, Plasmon and, in July, Carrefour Italia – while completing the listing of its subsidiary Princes Group Plc on the London Stock Exchange. With the acquisition of the French retailer’s network – now renamed Princes Retail and comprising more than one thousand outlets nationwide – NewPrinces has become Italy’s second-largest food-processing operator by revenue and the leading company in the food and beverage sector by number of employees, with more than 13.000 employees in Italy. As regards external growth, in recent weeks a non-binding expression of interest by NewPrinces in Realco, the Reggio Emilia cooperative under a preventive composition procedure and licensee of the Sigma banner in Emilia-Romagna, had emerged. It has approximately 140 outlets, including supermarkets, Ecu discount stores and Economy stores. The deal would have formed part of the strategy to strengthen its retail presence in northern Italy. Mastrolia nevertheless told us that Realco is currently outside the scope of interest, leaving open the question of what the next move will be for a group that, in less than twelve months, has shown that it can move at an unusual speed within the Italian food industry. During Linkontro 2026, we discussed this with Angelo Mastrolia, chairman, and Giuseppe Mastrolia, CEO of NewPrinces, who explained the reasons for the change of plan and previewed future projects.

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.