Sogegross

Sogegross is an Italian food distribution group headquartered in Genoa. Its business is built around two complementary activities: wholesale distribution through cash-and-carry outlets and consumer retail through a portfolio of supermarket and discount formats. The group’s wholesale activity operates under the Sogegross Cash & Carry and GrosMarket names, while its retail network includes Basko, Doro Supermercati, and Ekom. The business traces its origins to 1920, when Ercole Gattiglia and his wife acquired a grocery store in Genoa’s San Martino district. A major transition took place after the Second World War. In 1945, Ercole’s son Augusto Gattiglia and two of his brothers expanded beyond conventional grocery retail, beginning both confectionery production and wholesale trading. This combination of commercial distribution and food-related activity established the basis for the group’s later development. Sogegross introduced its first cash-and-carry facility in 1970. The format enabled professional customers and retailers to purchase goods in a self-service wholesale environment and became the group’s historical distribution model. The company entered organized retail more directly in 1987, when it opened its first Basko location. Doro Supermercati followed in 1991, adding a convenience-oriented supermarket format, and the Ekom discount chain was created in 1993. The group strengthened its position in 2004 under the leadership of Vittorio Gattiglia through the acquisition of approximately a dozen Conad stores. This transaction expanded the company’s retail presence and consolidated its regional scale. Sogegross subsequently extended its operations beyond Liguria into neighboring parts of northwestern and northern Italy. Lombardy became part of its operating footprint in 2016. The group’s formats serve different customer needs. Cash-and-carry stores primarily address professional buyers and independent retailers. Basko operates local supermarkets and small superstores, including the Iperfresco Basko format. Doro focuses on convenience stores and smaller franchised supermarkets. Ekom is positioned as a grocery discount chain. Together, these formats allow Sogegross to cover wholesale purchasing, neighborhood shopping, conventional supermarket retail, and price-sensitive grocery demand. Sogegross is also associated with the Agorà Network, a collaboration among regional large-scale retail groups in northern Italy. The network includes Sogegross alongside Tigros, Poli Group, and Iperal Group. One result of this cooperation has been the development and distribution of the Primia private-label product line across participating stores. In 2017, the group was reported to have approximately 230 stores and turnover of €872 million. That year it also announced a €30 million investment in a new logistics center in Val Polcevera, on the outskirts of Genoa. The logistics project reflected the importance of distribution infrastructure to a regional retailer operating several formats across multiple territories. Sogegross remains primarily a northern Italian food retail and wholesale operator, with its identity rooted in family ownership, regional reach, multi-format stores, and supply-chain integration.

Sogegross began in 1920 as a grocery store in Genoa’s San Martino district, acquired by Ercole Gattiglia and his wife. The company’s later development remained closely connected to the Gattiglia family. In 1945, Ercole’s son Augusto and two of his brothers broadened the business by combining confectionery production with wholesale trading. This postwar shift moved the enterprise from a single grocery operation toward a wider food-distribution model. The group established its first cash-and-carry operation in 1970. Cash-and-carry became Sogegross’s defining wholesale format, supplying professional customers and retailers through self-service outlets. The company subsequently developed a multi-format retail structure. Basko was introduced in 1987 as the group’s supermarket brand. Doro Supermercati was launched in 1991, focusing on convenience stores and smaller supermarkets, including franchised locations. Ekom followed in 1993 as a discount grocery chain. A significant consolidation phase occurred in 2004, when Sogegross, led by Vittorio Gattiglia, acquired approximately a dozen Conad stores. The transaction expanded its retail base and supported the group’s development as a regional large-scale distribution company. Sogegross later extended its presence from Liguria into neighboring areas of northern and central-northern Italy, including Tuscany, Piedmont, the Aosta Valley, Emilia-Romagna, and Lombardy. The group’s operations also reached the Piacenza area. By 2016, Sogegross had entered Lombardy, adding to its multi-region footprint. In 2017, the group was described as one of Italy’s larger private large-scale distribution companies, with reported turnover of €872 million and approximately 230 stores. The same year, it planned to invest €30 million in a new logistics center in Val Polcevera near Genoa. The logistics investment was consistent with the group’s strategy of supporting several retail and wholesale formats through centralized distribution. Sogegross’s current brand architecture comprises wholesale and retail businesses. Sogegross Cash & Carry and GrosMarket represent the historical wholesale activity, with cash-and-carry locations distributed across Liguria, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, and Tuscany. Basko operates local supermarkets and smaller superstores, including Iperfresco Basko. Doro Supermercati serves convenience-oriented shopping through stores in Liguria, Tuscany, Piedmont, and the Aosta Valley. Ekom operates discount grocery stores in Liguria, Tuscany, Piedmont, the Aosta Valley, and Lombardy. The group also participates in the Agorà Network, a northern Italian collaboration that brings together Sogegross, Tigros, Poli Group, and Iperal Group. The network supports cooperation among regional retailers and has enabled the circulation of the Primia private-label range in participating stores. Sogegross is therefore best understood not as a single-format supermarket chain, but as a family-linked regional distribution house combining wholesale, supermarkets, convenience outlets, discount stores, franchising, and shared private-label activity.

• 2017

  Val Polcevera logistics investment

  [1]Sogegrossen.wikipedia.org

  Sogegross announced plans for a new logistics center near Genoa, with a reported investment of €30 million.

• 2016

  Expansion into Lombardy

  [1]Sogegrossen.wikipedia.org

  The group extended its operations into Lombardy.

• 2004

  Conad store acquisition

  [1]Sogegrossen.wikipedia.org

  Sogegross acquired approximately a dozen Conad stores, consolidating its regional retail presence.

• 1993

  Ekom discount chain created

  [1]Sogegrossen.wikipedia.org

  The Ekom grocery discount format was added to the group’s retail portfolio.

• 1991

  Doro Supermercati introduced

  [1]Sogegrossen.wikipedia.org

  Sogegross created the Doro supermarket chain for convenience-oriented and smaller-store retail.

• 1987

  Basko retail brand launched

  [1]Sogegrossen.wikipedia.org

  The group opened its first retail location under the Basko name.

• 1970

  First cash-and-carry outlet

  [1]Sogegrossen.wikipedia.org

  Sogegross opened its first cash-and-carry facility, establishing the wholesale format that remains central to the group.

• 1945

  Expansion into production and wholesale

  [1]Sogegrossen.wikipedia.org

  Augusto Gattiglia and two brothers began confectionery production and wholesale trading, broadening the family business beyond grocery retail.

• 1920

  Origin as a Genoa grocery store

  [1]Sogegrossen.wikipedia.org

  Ercole Gattiglia and his wife acquired a grocery store in Genoa’s San Martino district, establishing the business that later became Sogegross.

A regional northern Italian grocery group positioned across wholesale cash-and-carry, neighborhood supermarkets, convenience retail, and discount food retail. Its multi-brand structure allows it to serve professional customers, independent retailers, and household shoppers at different price and convenience points.

• Wholesale grocery · 1970

  Sogegross Cash & Carry

  Sogegross’s historical wholesale format uses the cash-and-carry model, allowing professional customers, food businesses, and independent retailers to select and purchase merchandise directly from warehouse-style outlets. The format operates across several northern and central-northern Italian regions and forms the foundation of the group’s business-to-business distribution activity.

• Wholesale grocery

  GrosMarket

  GrosMarket is one of the group’s wholesale-facing identities associated with the cash-and-carry business. It serves professional buyers through broad food and everyday merchandise assortments rather than functioning as a conventional neighborhood supermarket.

• Supermarket retail · 1987

  Basko

  Basko is Sogegross’s principal supermarket brand. It operates local supermarkets and smaller superstore formats, including Iperfresco Basko. The brand extends the group’s reach from wholesale distribution into routine household grocery shopping and is directly operated by the group.

• Convenience supermarket · 1991

  Doro Supermercati

  Doro Supermercati is a convenience-oriented retail chain comprising smaller supermarkets and franchised stores. Its regional presence in Liguria, Tuscany, Piedmont, and the Aosta Valley gives Sogegross a format suited to neighborhood shopping and smaller local catchment areas.

• Discount grocery · 1993

  Ekom

  Ekom is Sogegross’s discount grocery chain. It operates in Liguria, Tuscany, Piedmont, the Aosta Valley, and Lombardy, addressing price-conscious consumers through a discount-oriented store proposition.

• Private label

  Primia

  Primia is a private-label product line associated with the Agorà Network, of which Sogegross is a member. The range is available through participating network retailers and represents a shared purchasing and merchandising initiative rather than a standalone Sogegross store format.

• 2017

  Build a logistics center in Val PolceveraStrategy

  Background

  The group’s expansion across multiple regions and formats increased the importance of centralized logistics and distribution capacity.

  Action taken

  Sogegross planned a new logistics center on the outskirts of Genoa in Val Polcevera.

  Aftermath

  The project was reported as a €30 million investment intended to support the group’s distribution infrastructure.

  Planned logistics-center investment. €30 million planned investment (2017)

  Source

• 2004

  Acquire approximately a dozen Conad storesM&A

  Background

  Sogegross sought to consolidate and enlarge its retail presence while maintaining its broader wholesale and multi-format strategy.

  Action taken

  The group, led by Vittorio Gattiglia, acquired approximately twelve stores previously associated with Conad.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition strengthened Sogegross’s regional retail network and supported subsequent expansion into additional northern Italian markets.

  Source

1. 1Sogegrossen.wikipedia.org