Cutting debt, enhancing key brands, and consolidating global leadership in the aperitif segment. This is the path outlined by Simon Hunt, CEO of Campari Group, who has ruled out new acquisitions in the short term to focus on strengthening the group's financial and operational strength. "Our focus is clear: reducing leverage and improving the quality of growth. Only then will we have the flexibility to seize new opportunities in the future," Hunt stated.
The goal is to increase the debt/EBITDA ratio to 2,5x, from the current 2,9x, including through the sale of secondary brands. "We're in no rush to buy," he added, "because we have so much potential in-house. Our priority is to grow what we already have." During the Strategy Day in Sesto San Giovanni, Hunt reiterated that "Campari must return to being synonymous with the Italian lifestyle around the world." For Aperol, the iconic brand, new forms of consumption are in the works, such as draught sales and the launch of the Campari Spritz in bottles. "We want to make the Spritz even more accessible and expand it to markets like Germany and the United States, where demand is growing rapidly."
The group, controlled by the Garavoglia family, is targeting mid- to high-single-digit organic growth in the medium term. "We won't set hard and fast targets," the CEO clarified, "because the environment remains extremely volatile, but the potential of our brands is extraordinary."
Campari aims to strengthen Courvoisier with a relaunch plan in key markets and expand Espolon tequila, which continues to record double-digit growth rates in the United States. "These are brands with a great soul and a very strong identity," Hunt explained, "and our strategy is to invest in them with discipline, supporting consumers who seek authenticity." Over the past three years, the company has invested over €600 million in production capacity and infrastructure. "Now we are reaping the benefits of these efforts," the manager said, emphasizing how industrial efficiency has enabled improved margins and profitability: in the first nine months of 2025, adjusted EBITDA rose 6,4%.
Alongside Hunt, the new management team reflects the strategic shift: Thomas Moradpour, formerly of LVMH and PepsiCo, as chief marketing officer and head of global strategy, and Francesco Mele, formerly of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, as the new CFO. “Global demand for spirits is changing,” Hunt concluded. “People want more spontaneous social moments, light-hearted experiences, and quality products. Aperol and Crodino perfectly embody this new way of drinking. This is where Campari's growth will begin again.”
