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THE
BEGINNING
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The year was 1949 and the Second World War had finally come to an end. As Italy and the world were getting back on their feet, Joseph Nissim founded Exportex, the precursor to Bolton Group, in Milan.
joseph Nissim was a
leading voice in Italy’s
post-war economic miracle. His vision and entrepreneurial ability allowed Exportex to develop a renowned distribution and marketing operation for consumer goods in Italy.
He drew inspiration from the big Anglo-American corporations like Procter & Gamble, and Smithkline – Beecham, for whom Exportex would become the local distributor in Italy and Greece.
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Exportex warehouse, 1980s
1960
The birth of
television advertising
As mass consumption took off in the USA, the consumer model wasn’t the only thing changing – our experience of daily life at home and within our households was evolving too.
It was when
advertisement breaks were first introduced on Italian television that Exportex – led by its visionary founder – began to showcase true creative genius by bringing legendary jingles
He drew inspiration from the big Anglo-American corporations like Procter & Gamble, and Smithkline – Beecham, for whom Exportex would become the local distributor in Italy and Greece.
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Billboards, Milan, 1950–1960s
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Headquarters, via Pirelli 19, Milan, 1981
1970s and 1980s
Creation of
Bolton Group
Bolton Group evolves from a distribution company into large organisation with a portfolio of brands and production facilities
Bolton Group’s first owned brand, Rio Mare, was launched in 1967. The decision came from the intuition that tuna, which up until then had been sold by weight, would be a huge success if sold in
single-serving cans. An unforgettable slogan helped the brand become the undisputed market leader in Europe. Rio Mare was the first Bolton brand – and is still to this daythe largest of the 50 brands in the company portfolio.
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Exportex Logo, 1949 Bolton Group Logo, 1978
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Rio Mare, Oggi
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Spot Rio Mare, 1970
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Some of the products handled by Bolton Group, 1980s
1980s and early 1990s
A talent for brands
The secret to Bolton’s success has always been its ability to develop brands – identifying their power as catalysts for values and strategic assets for business growth.
Quality, efficiency, competence, and passion are the foundations of Bolton Group, providing the perfect environment for consolidated brands to grow and achieve success.
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Simmenthal, 1987
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Acquisition of UHU
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Home Care products, 1993-1994
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Some Neutro Roberts products, 1980
1990
Outstanding growth
through brand
acquisitions and
international expansion
Bolton enjoys rapid development thanks to international expansion and strategic acquisitions
number of countries. Then, with that base established, the Group turned its attention to the rest of the world.
2000
Bolton Group
goes global
With the acquisitions of Garavilla in 2015 in the branded tuna sector and Tri Marine in 2019, in the tuna supply, Bolton Group takes on a truly global dimension, consolidating its presence in all five main continents.
Though Bolton Group has always maintained strong diversification across its business areas, these acquisitions consolidated its presence in the food sector, particularly in tuna supply chain.
The acquisitions saw the company workforce reach 11,000, with Bolton proud to create jobs and provide support to local communities.
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dida da inserire
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dida da inserire
PRESENT DAY
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We are Bolton Group,
a leader in sustainable consumer goods
We are a global enterprise of over 11.000 people and a presence in over 150 countries with 59 offices, 16 product facilities, 7 Research & Development labs and 17 fishing boats around the world.
Our portfolio includes over 50 leading brands in five different sectors and five distribution channels. Ours has been a 70-year journey – but our path towards a sustainable future continues.
The passion for what we want and how we imagine it has made our dreams come true, breaking down the barriers and going beyond our hopes and expectations.
The Sky is the limit.
