The Orsero Group is taking a strategic step in its internationalization journey by entering into a joint venture with the Trucco Group, a leading distributor of fresh fruit and vegetables in the United States. The agreement, formalized on June 30, marks the Italian group's entry into the American company's capital and represents Orsero's first direct presence in the US market.
The transaction aims to strengthen the two companies' growth in the North American fresh produce market, leveraging complementary skills, commercial synergies, and a shared vision of long-term development.
The agreement provides that Nick Pacia, owner and CEO of Trucco, will retain a majority stake and continue to lead the company's operations, ensuring continuity in management, customer and supplier relationships, and the corporate culture that has characterized the American group's growth.
With operations in the Bronx, New York, and Vineland, New Jersey, Trucco distributes a wide range of fresh produce, including kiwis, blueberries, citrus fruits, cherries, garlic, chestnuts, and dried fruit. The integration with Orsero's offerings will expand the product portfolio and develop new business opportunities for both companies.
A key element of the agreement is shared governance. Raffaella Orsero, vice president and CEO of the Italian group, and Matteo Colombini, CEO of Orsero, will join Trucco's board of directors, along with the American company's current managers, Sasha LoPresti and Nicholas Pacia.
For Orsero, this is a strategic investment. The United States is one of the world's leading markets for fresh fruit and vegetables and offers growth prospects in a context characterized by growing demand and significant opportunities for trade integration.
Founded in 1937 at the Washington Street Produce Market in Manhattan, Trucco is now one of the largest US importers and distributors of fresh produce, dried fruit, and nuts. The company is also known for its KiwiStar, TruStar, and Fresco brands and is a leading distributor of Zespri kiwifruit in the United States.
Orsero, active for over fifty years and listed on the Euronext STAR Milan segment, is one of the leading operators in Mediterranean Europe in the import and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables. The group is present in numerous European and Latin American countries and complements its commercial operations with the maritime transport of bananas and pineapples using its own fleet of vessels. The alliance with Trucco now ushers in a new phase of international growth, strengthening the Italian group's presence in one of the world's most important markets.
