There is a factory in Italy that operates only 70 days a year, has revenues of 777 million euros and sells a product that exists in many European supermarkets.
About 15 km from Parma, in the northern part of Italy, its factory Mutti, the largest of the company's three industrial facilities, gathers between July and September almost all of its production activity, alongside the tomato harvest in the Emilia-Romana region.
Founded in the late 19th century, the company had total revenue EUR 14 million The 1994 and reached 118 million 15 years later, while in 2025 her income amounted to EUR 777 millionWith 60% coming from international markets and France being its main export destination.
Narin 24-hour operation, the unit operates to the maximum of its capabilities, as explained by the company owner Francesco Mutti, must process the 100% of tomato and produce it 75% the final product within just 70 days, welcoming about daily 200 Trucks with 25 tonnes Tomato each.
How does production work?
To preserve the properties, texture and taste of the fruit, Mutti sets a ceiling 24 hours from harvest to start processing, considering the distance up to and 200 km between the fields and the factory.
Before entry into production, sample 15 kg from each truck is analyzed through a scanner with artificial intelligence, where it is evaluated approximately 15 parameters, such as sugar content, pH, color and presence of green or damaged fruits.
The authorised consignments are classified in five quality categories (normal, bronze, silver, gold and platinum), which determine the economic rewards of farmers. The tomatoes are then mixed in large tanks to achieve uniform raw material, as, as innovation director Alice La Tona points out, quality is based on standardisation.
After mixing, cold extraction machines separate the different parts of the fruit. Most of the flesh is crushed to produce the known polpa (gripped tomato), which is packed after short heating.
At the same time, juice and the rest of the flesh undergo an extended boiling process for its preparation passata and concentrated paste. These products, together with tomato paste tubes, are the main production lines of the plant during the summer campaign.
