Barilla said that the ingredients, people and technology at the plant in Rubbiano di Solignano will all be Italian, but its aim was to focus resources on growing the popularity of Italian pasta meals globally.
The facility will be dedicated to producing pasta sauces, employing 120 people and producing 35,000 tons of sauces a year, with a maximum capacity of 60,000 tons.
Chairman of Barilla Group Guido Barilla said in a statement: "The Rubbiano sauces plant is an example of an investment in quality in Italy with an international outlook. While on the one hand, the ingredients, the recipes and the technology are Italian, the goal is to grow on foreign markets, taking the authentic Italian cuisine all over the world.”
The company said that the plant’s opening this week marks an important strategic step as it moves into the pasta sauce market, instead of relying on external partners, as it had done for 40 years. The factory will produce 24 different pasta sauce recipes, including tomato-based and pesto-based sauces. The main raw materials – tomatoes and basil – will be 100% Italian, the company said.
Monday’s opening ceremony was attended by Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and the Barilla family.
Guido Barilla added: “This factory stands at the forefront of design and technology. We are very proud of this result and would like to thank all the people for the hard work that has made today’s opening ceremony possible”.