Sarni

Sarni is an Italian family-owned company operating primarily in food service, with additional activities in manufacturing, energy and real estate. It is best known through its catering arm, Sarni Ristorazione, which is the second-largest operator in Italy's motorway catering sector after Autogrill. The group traces its origins to 1953, when the five Sarni brothers — Alessandro, Antonio, Potito Nicola, Teodoro and Carmine, originally from Ascoli Satriano — jointly began managing a bar just outside their home town and later moved into fuel distribution. During the 1970s the family's bar, pizzeria and restaurant business, together with its fuel distribution operations, expanded along the motorway network of southern Italy, with the first Sarni service stations located on the A14 Bologna-Taranto stretch between Foggia and Pescara. Today Sarni Ristorazione describes itself as a leader in motorway and shopping-centre catering, with more than 142 points of sale and around 1,500 employees according to its own corporate profile; the wider group is reported to employ over 2,500 people and to manage a portfolio of more than 100 outlets across Italy. Its presence is concentrated on the Italian motorway network, where it operates mainly through concession contracts and in some cases franchising, and it also runs outlets in airports, railway stations, shopping centres and some city locations. The company's stated formula is a "family" style of catering built on product quality and service standards, aiming to make customers feel part of the "great Sarni family". Its vision is to be recognised in Italy for quality and value in food service, and its mission is to offer food & beverage and market products with a strong quality-price ratio. The group operates through several brands and business lines. Sarni Ristorazione covers the catering brands Sarni Cafè, Sarni Burger and Sarni Bistrò. Sarni Oro is active in the production and trade of jewellery and manufactured articles. Sarni OIL handles fuel distribution and renewable energy. FinSud operates in real estate, managing and enhancing property assets, and owns the GrandApulia shopping centre in Foggia, one of the largest in Puglia, managed together with Svicom. The company's registered denomination is Maglione S.r.l., and its headquarters are located in Chieti, having previously been in Apricena. Sarni has grown over the decades partly by acquiring outlets from competitors such as Autogrill and Gruppo Cremonini through concession awards. In autumn 2007 the Sarni family acquired Fini Fast, and in November 2011 the Fini Fast brand disappeared from the Italian motorway network after full acquisition by Mesagne Sviluppo S.r.l. and the Sarni family, which replaced Fini Fast outlets with the Sarni brand. The group remains privately held and family controlled.

The origins of Sarni lie with five brothers — Alessandro, Antonio, Potito Nicola, Teodoro and Carmine Sarni — originally from Ascoli Satriano. In 1953 they jointly took over the management of a bar just outside their home town, and subsequently moved into fuel distribution. During the 1970s the family's management of bars, pizzerias and restaurants, together with fuel distribution, expanded into the motorway network of southern Italy. The first Sarni service stations were located on the Autostrade per l'Italia network, on the A14 Bologna-Taranto motorway in the Foggia-Pescara section. From their entry into the motorway sector, the company expanded progressively along the motorway network, also acquiring outlets from competitors Autogrill and Gruppo Cremonini, which were transferred to Sarni through the award of concessions. This expansion continued, though at a slower pace than in earlier years. In autumn 2007 the Sarni family acquired Fini Fast. In November 2011 the Fini Fast brand disappeared from the Italian motorway network following its full acquisition by Mesagne Sviluppo S.r.l. and the Sarni family, which replaced the Fini Fast outlets with the Sarni brand. Today, through Sarni Ristorazione, the company is the second-largest operator in the Italian motorway catering sector, after Autogrill. Its corporate profile states that it is a leader in motorway and shopping-centre catering, with more than 142 points of sale and around 1,500 employees; the wider group is reported to have over 2,500 employees and to manage more than 100 outlets across Italy. The activity is spread throughout Italy with around 140 outlets located in shopping centres, airports and motorways. Most points of sale are on the Italian motorway network, with a presence in some shopping centres under the Sarni Ristorazione and Sarni Oro brands, while on the motorway it operates under the Sarni Ristorazione, Sarni OIL and Sarni Oro brands, managed by the real estate company FinSud. Beyond catering, the group has significant real estate interests through FinSud. One of the notable assets managed by FinSud is the GrandApulia shopping centre in Foggia. Due to environmental concerns related to the area and the nearby Cervaro river, the centre was initially placed under seizure about five days before its scheduled opening; after the legal resolution of the environmental issue, it opened towards the end of 2016. It is today one of the largest shopping centres in Puglia. FinSud also owns the property of the GrandApulia shopping centre, managed together with Svicom. The company operates through several brands and sectors, each specialised in specific areas: Sarni Ristorazione, which includes the Sarni Cafè, Sarni Burger and Sarni Bistrò brands dedicated to catering; Sarni Oro, active in the production and trade of jewellery and manufactured articles; Sarni OIL, which deals with fuel distribution and renewable energy; and FinSud, which operates in real estate with a focus on managing and enhancing properties. The company's registered denomination is Maglione S.r.l. Its headquarters are located in Chieti, having previously been in Apricena.

• 2016

  The GrandApulia shopping centre in Foggia opens towards the end of the year after legal resolution of environmental issues.

• 2011

  In November, the Fini Fast brand disappears from the Italian motorway network after full acquisition by Mesagne Sviluppo S.r.l. and the Sarni family; outlets are rebranded as Sarni.

• 2007

  In autumn, the Sarni family acquires Fini Fast.

• 1970

  The family's bar, pizzeria and restaurant business, together with fuel distribution, expands into the southern Italian motorway network; first Sarni service stations on the A14 Bologna-Taranto, Foggia-Pescara section.

• 1953

  The five Sarni brothers jointly begin managing a bar outside their home town of Ascoli Satriano.

Family-style Italian catering focused on product quality, convenience and service standards, positioned as the second-largest motorway catering operator in Italy.

• Sarni Ristorazione

  Catering division covering the Sarni Cafè, Sarni Burger and Sarni Bistrò brands.

• Sarni Cafè

  Coffee bar brand within Sarni Ristorazione.

• Sarni Burger

  Burger restaurant brand within Sarni Ristorazione.

• Sarni Bistrò

  Bistrò dining brand within Sarni Ristorazione.

• Sarni Oro

  Brand active in the production and trade of jewellery and manufactured articles.

• Sarni OIL

  Brand for fuel distribution and renewable energy.

• FinSud

  Real estate company managing and enhancing properties, including the GrandApulia shopping centre.

1. 1Sarni Ristorazione – official websitesarniristorazione.it
2. 2Chi siamo – Sarni Ristorazionesarniristorazione.it
3. 3Sarni – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Sarni (azienda) – Wikipediait.wikipedia.org