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The joy of food for a better life

From social media to semiconductors, and from US giants such as Apple and Amazon to leading Asian players such as Panasonic and TikTok, employing more than 37,000 people and generating more than €35 billion in export revenues every year, the Irish tech sector is thriving.

The events of the last few years have had an indelible impact on business. Supply chains have been severely disrupted and this has placed notable strains on the food industry. However, the most innovative companies have been quick to adapt while retaining their core purpose.

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Power to the people

Remaining sustainable in today’s landscape requires making significant ESG investments in various areas of the business, and this includes staff. Barilla believes workplace equality is a cornerstone of a just society, and has established employee resource groups (ERGs) that have played a key role in supporting its 8,700 employees in more than 100 countries throughout the turmoil of recent times. Centred on specific types of diversity, these groups are volunteer-led and encourage a more inclusive company culture.

To address the urgent issue of climate change, Barilla Group has been actively working towards reducing its own carbon emissions. Compared to 2010, the company's greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 32% and it now gets 64% of its energy from renewable sources. In addition, all Barilla packaging for semolina pasta, sauces, pestos, breads, biscuits and snacks is designed for recycling.

Putting down roots

For more information visit Barilla Group sustainable sourcing »

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Back to basics

Barilla Group is, first and foremost, a company that continues to pioneer sustainable ways to produce simple food eaten by millions worldwide every day. In 2020, it announced the acquisition of the Muggia pasta plant near Trieste, and in 2021, it acquired Canadian brand Catelli Dry Pasta and a majority stake in UK premium fresh pasta brand Pasta Evangelists, and most recently the Back To Nature brand.

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Barilla Group, the Italian food company which started as a small shop in Parma in 1877, has been among those to thrive in recent years and solidify its position as a world leader in pasta, ready-made sauces and bakery products. A focus on provenance and distribution has alleviated supply challenges, while investment in staff and wider climate goals have bolstered its Environmental, Social and Governance commitments. The brand’s new positioning, “the joy of food for a better life”, goes to the heart of its ethos that sustainability and equitability are fundamental to its business.

The company believes that food has the power to bring joy and make a meaningful impact on society. Through its efforts supporting local communities, the company has donated 3.2 million euros and 3,200 tons of products to support communities in need, and partners with a range of charitable organisations to address food insecurity.

Barilla Group establishes, long-term relationships with suppliers founded on transparency. More than 9,000 of its farmers are currently engaged in sustainable agriculture practices and to improve the durability of its supply chain, the company developed the Sustainable Agriculture Code (SAC). This is based on five principles for improving its agricultural system: pursue efficiency and competitiveness of the production system; maintain business integrity and application of the Barilla Ethical Code; strive for quality and food safety; reduce the impact on the environment; and believe in listening and collaboration for continuous improvement.

To ensure the quality and sustainability of the raw materials used in its products, Barilla Group has developed free tools to support farmers, alongside guides for the sustainable cultivation of durum wheat, soft wheat and basil. In 2022, the group purchased more than 667,000 tons of durum wheat and over 267,000 tons of durum wheat semolina from sustainably managed supply chains.

Food provenance is important to the company, which uses only Italian basil for its pestos and tomato-based sauces, and the majority (81%) of the tomatoes in its sauces originate from Italy. Wherever possible, the tomatoes and basil are cultivated in close proximity to the production plants, minimising the time between harvest and processing of the product. Cane sugar often originates from countries in which workers are at high risk of poor treatment and exploitation. Barilla Group purchases its cane sugar only from suppliers certified by a Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA).

This commitment to quality extends beyond the consumer's plate and the company is also involved in developing new production guidelines for sauces and filled pasta and is working with Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) to develop specific animal welfare guidelines that cover the procurement of pork and beef.

The company recently approved one billion euros of investments for the next five years to improve product quality and safety processes, to renew and upgrade its industrial assets and IT infrastructures, to adopt new Industry 4.0 technologies, increase production globally, and continue to innovate in both products and markets.

Barilla Group’s commitment to people and the planet

“If we wish to give our planet and every one of us a future, we must all play our part,” says Gianluca Di Tondo, CEO, Barilla Group. “Our company embarked on this journey many years ago, taking small steps that over time have helped us to achieve great results.”

Barilla Group has ensured equitable wages for all its staff and has reached gender parity worldwide. The company is also an industry leader in gender representation, with women holding 38% of all senior leadership positions, and its efforts are being globally recognised: in 2021, it won the Catalyst Award for its progress in advancing gender equality and inclusiveness in the workplace.

Italian food company Barilla, which started as a small shop in Parma in 1877, has grown to become a world leader in pasta, ready-made sauces, and bakery products, with over 8700 employees present in more than 100 countries across 29 production sites. The brand’s new purpose, “the joy of food for a better life”, drives its ethos that sustainability and equitability are a fundamental way of doing business, rather than a trendy thing to do or a passing fad. “If we wish to give our planet and every one of us a future, we must all play our part,” says Gianluca Di Tondo, Barilla Group CEO. “Our company embarked on this journey many years ago, taking small steps that over time have helped us to achieve great results”.