Illva Saronno bolsters portfolio with €100m acquisition

In a significant consolidation of the Italian spirits market, Illva Saronno Holding has entered into an agreement to acquire the historic Amaro Averna and Zedda Piras brands from Campari Group for a total consideration of €100 million.

The deal, announced on December 18, 2025, marks a major strategic expansion for Illva Saronno, the owner of the iconic Disaronno brand. The acquisition includes Amaro Averna, one of the world’s most recognisable Italian bitters with a massive international footprint, and Zedda Piras, a leader in the Sardinian myrtle liqueur (mirto) segment.

For Campari Group, the divestment is part of a deliberate “portfolio rationalisation” strategy designed to streamline the business and prioritise “core brands.” Speaking on the transaction, Campari CEO Simon Hunt noted that the move allows the group to focus resources on its highest-growth opportunities.

This sale follows a busy year of divestments for Campari, which recently offloaded its Cinzano and Frattina brands to the Caffo Group for €100 million. In total, Campari’s recent divestment activities have generated over €210 million, significantly reducing the group’s financial leverage while simplifying its operations.

Illva Saronno views the acquisition as a pivotal step in its own global evolution. While Amaro Averna already sees approximately 70% of its sales outside of Italy—with strong positions in the U.S., Germany, and Austria — Illva Saronno plans to leverage its existing distribution network to further scale the brand’s international reach.

“The acquisition of these two historic brands marks a strategic milestone in our global expansion,” the company stated. By integrating these high-equity Italian spirits into their portfolio, Illva Saronno aims to solidify its status as a leading multinational player in the premium spirits category.

The €100 million price tag is to be paid in cash and is subject to standard price adjustment mechanisms.

The move highlights a broader trend in the food and drink manufacturing sector where major players are shedding non-core assets to focus on high-margin, global “power brands,” while specialised groups like Illva Saronno aggressively acquire established heritage labels to build scale.