Barilla Group

Who owns Barilla?
Barilla Group is entirely owned by the Barilla family through Barilla Holding Srl. The fourth generation, represented by Guido Barilla (Chairman), Paolo Barilla (Vice Chairman), and Luca Barilla (Vice Chairman), maintains controlling ownership. The company has never been publicly traded and has remained in family ownership since its founding in 1877, except for a brief period from 1971 to 1979 when it was owned by W.R. Grace and Company.

Is Barilla publicly traded?
No. Barilla Group is not publicly traded and has never been listed on any stock exchange. There are no shares available for purchase by outside investors. The company publishes consolidated financial statements as Barilla Holding Srl, including sustainability disclosures, but does not face the reporting requirements of publicly listed companies.

What is Barilla's annual revenue?
Barilla Group reported revenue of EUR 4.837 billion for fiscal year 2025, a slight decrease of 0.9% from FY2024. EBITDA was EUR 579 million (up 7.8%), and net profit was EUR 233 million (up 64% from EUR 142 million in FY2024). The EBITDA margin improved to 12%. The company maintains a positive net financial position of EUR 230 million.

What brands does Barilla own?
Barilla owns Barilla (pasta and sauces), Mulino Bianco (Italian bakery, celebrating 50 years in 2025), Wasa (Swedish crispbread), Harrys (French bread), Voiello (premium pasta), Pan di Stelle (biscuits), Pavesi (crackers), Lieken Urkorn (German bread), Filiz (Turkey pasta), Misko (Greece pasta), Yemina and Vesta (Mexico pasta), Catelli/Lancia/Splendour (Canada pasta), Pasta Evangelists (UK fresh pasta), Back to Nature (USA plant-based snacks, acquired 2025), and Academia Barilla (premium culinary).

Where is Barilla pasta made?
Barilla pasta is manufactured at 30 production sites across multiple countries, including Italy, the United States, Germany, France, Turkey, Greece, Mexico, and Canada. The company's flagship production facilities are located in Parma, Italy. In 2025, Barilla announced a USD 170 million investment to expand its pasta factory in Avon, New York. The company produces over 2 million tons of food annually.

What is Mulino Bianco?
Mulino Bianco is Italy's leading bakery brand, owned by Barilla Group. The brand celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025. Mulino Bianco produces biscuits, crackers, and other bakery products and is one of the most recognized food brands in Italy. In 2025, the brand launched the Buongrano biscuit made from regenerative agriculture wheat, as part of the Carta del Mulino sustainable farming program involving almost 2,000 wheat farmers.

What is Barilla's sustainability strategy?
Barilla's sustainability strategy is organized around four pillars: Climate, Value Chain, Products, and People. The company has committed to Science Based Targets (SBTi) for 2030 emissions reduction aligned with the 1.5 degrees Celsius pathway. Key initiatives include a EUR 168 million investment plan for energy and water efficiency, photovoltaic capacity exceeding 8 MW, carbon neutrality for Wasa/GranCereale/Harrys/Mulino Bianco brands, regenerative agriculture (4,160 tons of wheat in 2025, targeting 250,000 tons by 2030), and 100% recyclable packaging in Italy.

What is the BITE research center?
BITE (Barilla Innovation and Technology Experience) is Barilla's new global innovation hub, opened in 2025 in Parma, Italy, next to the historic pasta factory. The facility houses over 200 professionals including food technologists, researchers, food designers, chefs, and sensory experts, with a network of 84 universities and research centers. BITE focuses on strengthening key product categories and driving innovation in pasta, bakery, and sauces.

Pietro Barilla opened a small bread and pasta shop on Via Vittorio Emanuele in Parma, Italy in 1877. The business grew through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the Barilla family investing in modern pasta production equipment and expanding distribution across Italy. The company registered its first trademark in 1910.

By the 1950s, Barilla had become one of Italy's leading pasta manufacturers. In 1971, the Barilla family sold the company to the American conglomerate W.R. Grace and Company. Pietro Barilla Jr. repurchased the company in 1979, returning it to family ownership.

Under Pietro Barilla Jr.'s leadership, the company expanded internationally and diversified its product portfolio. Key acquisitions included Mulino Bianco (Italian bakery products), Wasa (Swedish crispbread, acquired 1999), Harrys (French bread and bakery products), and Voiello (premium Italian pasta). The company expanded its manufacturing footprint across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East.

Pietro Barilla Jr. died in 1993. His sons Guido, Luca, and Paolo took over leadership of the company. Under their stewardship, Barilla has continued to expand through acquisitions including Catelli in Canada (February 2021, including the Lancia and Splendour brands and a plant in Montreal), a majority stake in Pasta Evangelists in the UK (January 2021, premium fresh pasta and sauces with digital distribution), and the Pasta Zara factory in Muggia, Italy (October 2020).

In 2025, Barilla acquired the American brand Back to Nature, specializing in plant-based snacks including cookies, crackers, nuts, and granola. Founded in 1960, Back to Nature offers a range of non-GMO plant-based products. The same year, Barilla opened its new BITE (Barilla Innovation and Technology Experience) research and development center in Parma, housing over 200 professionals including food technologists, researchers, food designers, and chefs, with a network of 84 universities and research centers.

Barilla has integrated sustainability into its corporate strategy with a structured approach organized around four key pillars: Climate, Value Chain, Products, and People. The company's sustainability strategy is aligned with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Climate action and emissions reduction: In 2025, Barilla committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), presenting new emission reduction targets for 2030. The targets cover Scope 1 (direct emissions), Scope 2 (energy consumption), and Scope 3 (value chain) emissions. Since 2010, greenhouse gas emissions per ton of finished product have decreased by 31%. The company has committed to a EUR 168 million investment plan for energy and water efficiency by 2030, with EUR 30 million invested in 2025 alone.

Renewable energy: In 2025, Barilla more than doubled its photovoltaic capacity across European production plants, reaching over 8 MW of installed power. Five new solar plants were activated in Foggia, Melfi, Ascoli Piceno, Cremona (Italy), and Thiva (Greece). Further installations are planned between 2026 and 2028 at bakery plants in Novara (Italy) and Celle (Germany). The company purchases 64% of its electricity from renewable sources with Guarantees of Origin. Carbon neutrality has been achieved for the Wasa, GranCereale, Harrys, and Mulino Bianco brands.

Water stewardship: In factories located in water-stressed areas, recycled and reused water has increased by 196% compared to 2022, with a target of +250% by 2030. Over the last three years, Barilla nearly tripled recycled water across production plants in water-stress areas.

Regenerative agriculture: In 2025, Barilla purchased 4,160 tons of soft wheat from regenerative agriculture, with a 2030 target of 250,000 tons. The Carta del Mulino program involves almost 2,000 soft wheat farmers and has enabled an annual reduction of approximately 9,000 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions. The Mulino Bianco Buongrano biscuit, launched in 2025, is made from regenerative agriculture wheat, with 2,000 hectares dedicated to biodiversity areas showing a 40% increase in pollinating insects.

Sustainable packaging: In Italy, Barilla has achieved 100% recyclable packaging, with 99.7% globally. The company uses paper and cardboard from responsibly managed forests. Recent packaging optimizations include tagliatelle packaging reductions saving 150 tons of cardboard and sauce jars containing approximately 65% recycled glass.

Certifications: 28 plants are certified under ISO 14001 (environmental management) and 25 under ISO 50001 (energy management). The company achieved a 35% reduction in accidents at manufacturing facilities in 2025 through its Zero Accidents Programme.

Community engagement: Barilla donates approximately EUR 12 million and 2,700 tons of products annually to non-profit organizations and social causes.

Barilla has received consistent recognition from independent organizations:

• Global RepTrak 100 (2026): Ranked 9th globally and 1st in the food sector for reputation, for the third consecutive year, up 16 positions from 2025
• Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): Committed member with validated 2030 emissions reduction targets aligned with 1.5 degrees Celsius pathway
• ISO 14001 and ISO 50001: 28 plants certified for environmental management, 25 for energy management
• Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP): Recognition for transparency in environmental reporting
• EPD System: Environmental Product Declarations verified by independent third parties for product life cycle impacts
• Food Transition Pact: Co-leader of this initiative for climate, nutrition, and sustainable packaging

Barilla Group has faced several controversies and regulatory challenges:

2013 anti-gay remarks controversy: In 2013, Chairman Guido Barilla made comments during a radio interview stating he would not use same-sex couples in Barilla advertising, sparking a global boycott. The controversy led to significant reputational damage and a consumer boycott. Barilla subsequently apologized and the company implemented comprehensive diversity and inclusion programs, established a Diversity and Inclusion Board, and expanded benefits for LGBTQ+ employees. The company has since received recognition for its progress in diversity and inclusion.

Food safety and regulatory compliance: Barilla operates under ongoing scrutiny from food safety authorities including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding product quality, ingredient standards, and manufacturing processes across its 30 production sites.

Health and nutritional claims: The company faces scrutiny regarding health claims, nutritional labeling, and consumer communication. Barilla must navigate complex regulations regarding food labeling and health claims across different international markets. The company has reformulated 488 products since 2010 to improve nutritional profiles.

Competition and market position: Barilla's dominant position in the pasta market, with an 18.5% global volume market share, creates scrutiny regarding competitive behavior and relationships with retailers. The company's market leadership in Italy (21.2% volume share) has drawn attention from competition authorities.

Supply chain and labor practices: Barilla faces scrutiny regarding agricultural labor standards, supplier relationships, and ethical sourcing across its global supply chain. The Carta del Mulino program and regenerative agriculture initiatives represent efforts to address these concerns, but the company must ensure fair labor practices across its network of almost 2,000 wheat farmers.