Attention to sustainability and, thanks to a new production plant, many products on the way. 2024 can be summarized like this Longino & Cardenal, reference company for the selection and distribution of foods dedicated to quality catering listed on the EGM, which held its convention in recent days. “I have always been convinced that quality and sustainability are two elements that cannot exist separately from each other. Only an animal treated with care, fed in a healthy way, free to move will then be able to offer a good product, be it its meat or any derivative product” underlines Riccardo Uleri, CEO of Longino & Cardenal, which in Italy alone has 4,500 customers and serves 80% of the Italian starred restaurants. “It is from respect for the environment and animals that we must start to obtain the raw materials that we define as rare and precious, because sustainability rhymes with quality. It is by highlighting this indisputable principle that we want to start again this year, to give value to the experience of cooking and tasting”.
How did 2023 go and what do you expect for this year?
“The 2023 just ended was a very positive year because we grew – even if not as I expected – and it allows us to look to the future with confidence. In 2023, in addition to confirming our development trend, we continued to invest in the organizational structure and in the offering of increasingly sought-after products. We are confident that the current year can continue in a positive manner, also supported by the good performances and growth that the foreign branches are recording”.
How are your foreign branches doing?
“Overseas subsidiaries picked up momentum again in 2023. Dubai did very well, while Hong Kong which came into existence in January 2023 recorded increasing margins. New York is also growing well: there is enormous potential because American restaurants buy a lot, but the costs are also very high. For this reason the break even is higher. The objective remains to sell our products to other exporters to expand even in countries where we are not present with a branch”.
And can we make an initial assessment online?
“Online is doing well, we have not suffered from the post-Covid decline given that we were born during the pandemic. It is an interesting channel in the medium term, but we also want it to be sustainable, without lowering prices, we give it time to grow because we believe we have a unique product.”
You have launched Don Gambero brand products. Is it your brand?
“Don Gambero is 76% controlled by us and we are focusing a lot on it because thanks to the factory inaugurated last June we have launched new prepared products and we will continue to expand the range in 2024. This is because, having known the haute cuisine market for 35 years , we apply our experience to the production of Don Gambero. A growth path that will allow us to start a fishing boat in Mazara Del Vallo because we will be able to buy all its catches and offer more affordable prices to our customers”.