The firm was established in 1967 in Bienne, a Swiss town with around 50 inhabitants in the Bern canton. "It was my grandfather, Luigi Petracca, who started this activity by importing fruit and vegetable products from Salento. These were sold in our greengrocer's to the many Italian emigrants."
After 20 years, in 1987, Valerio's father, Mario Petracca, took over. He focused more on the wholesale part of the business and so the shop was sold. "We started importing fruit and vegetables not only from Salento, but also from Vittoria and Latina. After ten years or so, we started working with the market in Milan."
Valerio Petracca started working full-time for the company in 2006. "We started importing produce from France, Spain, Netherlands and Hungary. After a few years, we also started importing from Turkey."
At that point they were growing so much that Petracca Sàrl decided to open two branches. "Four years ago we opened a branch in Turkey and, on 1st April 2010, we have inaugurated the Italian branch in Milan's Ortomercato."
Before opening the branch in Via Cesare Lombroso, the company had worked with the Ortomercato through the CarloBerra srl company for 13 years.
"We work with 2 different markets in Turkey - the Bursa one in Summer and the Antalya one the rest of the year. At the moment, we are finishing the campaign of the Antalya products. Prices are rising, as we are talking about greenhouse products that are finishing. When we will start the Bursa summer campaign, produce will come from open fields."
As many foreigners live in Switzerland, the manager explains that demand for these products increases year after year.
As regards Swiss and Italian transport, it is only carried out using the company's own vehicles. "We have 12 articulated lorries available that deliver our products all over Switzerland and to Milan as well. For deliveries from Turkey we use a specialised company located in Easter Europe."
"Even if not many people are aware of it, Switzerland too has been hit by the economic crisis. With the arrival of Lidl/Aldi, the sales of our clients have slightly dropped. Luckily we managed to balance that by adding new products (new packaging, new produce from other areas, etc.)."
The next step for Petracca Sàrl will be the packaging of products. "We are trying to develop another type of customers i.e. small supermarkets. We would like to supply products that we packaged ourselves."
Photo below: the complete team. Valerio Petracca is the second one from left.
For further info:
Valerio Petracca
Sales Manager
Email: [email protected]
Petracca Sàrl
Headquarters
Moosstrasse 11
CH-2542 Pieterlen (BE)
Tel.: +41 32 3760030
Fax: +41 32 3760031
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.petracca.ch
Italian branch
Via Cesare Lombroso 54
20137 Milano
Tel.: (+39) 02 36529020
Fax: (+39) 02 36529162
Email: [email protected]
Turkish branch
Tarim Sanayi Tic. Ltd.
Sti.Esentepe Mah.
7033 Sok n°14
Antalya Turchia
