Thanks to the good weather, increasing demand and renewed commitment by its members, the 2016 turnover for Cooperative Sant'Orsola was rather respectable. The company obtained an operating result of over €999 thousand with a gross operating margin of almost €3 million (5.27%). The value of the collected produce paid to partners has increased by 20%, exceeding the record figure of €23 million.
We talked to Director Matteo Bortolini, who reports "we met with our partners at the end of 2015 to decide how to proceed. Our main objectives are to improve yields and quality and extend the production calendar. Some focus on our project to build a new facility (to be inaugurated in 2019), but this initiative must not be confused with our business plan, as the warehouse will serve the production increase we have in mind."
Matteo Bortolini
2016 was the first year the new business plan was applied and results have been great, as demonstrated by the cultivated areas and number of partners involved (426 hectares and 880 companies respectively). "Even though Trentino remains the region with the most partners, we now have new partners from Sicily, who are now working with Sant'Orsola technicians to start growing soft fruit."
Raspberries and blueberries are the cooperative's flagship products, and the aim is to be able to supply them 12 months a year. "At the moment, we grow them between March and January. The gap is of just one month and a half and we are working on varietal improvement and agronomic techniques to close it."
The increase in volumes will provide Sant'Orsola with better opportunities on the foreign market as well, especially in Europe (currently 10% of the turnover). The objective is to export fresh produce, as the production costs of frozen or processed products would not be covered. This is why the company is also working on extending produce shelf-life by improving the cold chain.
Sara Bellini, communications manager, and Matteo Bortolini, director of Sant'Orsola.
"Back in 2012, people thought we wouldn't make it. Now we are back to being reliable. One of the elements that made a difference was the fact that we had to restart from the beginning. We looked our partners in the eye and decided to go on."
"Considering the size and potential of the soft fruit market, many will probably want to be part of this segment over the next few years. Our strength is our technical skills - not everyone can grow soft fruit. The capability of organising production and selecting the best variety will make the difference."
For further information:
Sant'Orsola Soc. Coop. Agricola
Sara Bellini
Via Lagorai 131
38057 Pergine Valsugana (TN)
Tel.: (+39) 0461 518170
Cell.: 335 5642361
Email: sara.bellini@santorsola.com
Web: www.santorsola.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CoopSantOrsola