Founded in 1836 in the heart of Cremona, Enea Sperlari’s workshop has evolved over nearly two centuries into an industrial enterprise that is celebrating its 190th anniversary this year. Its journey has spanned different eras, market transformations, and shifts in consumer habits, while maintaining a deep connection to its origins and a commitment to interpreting the present.

Today, the Sperlari Group is a leading player in the Italian confectionery industry with revenue of approximately 150 million euros, a balanced business portfolio of core and seasonal products, each contributing 50% to revenue, and an industrial structure comprising five production facilities in Italy, where 100% of the company’s products are manufactured, totaling approximately 20,000 metric tons per year. These figures are complemented by over 400 permanent employees, a number that reaches 750 during peak season, and a strategy focused on profitable growth, supported by investments in brands, innovation, and industrial expertise.

The Group brings together several Italian food brands: Sperlari, Saila, Galatine, Dietor, Dietorelle, and Paluani. In the candy market, the Group ranks as the third-largest player in Italy, with a 9.7% market share by value, while in the sweetener sector it holds a leadership position, with a market share by value exceeding 18%. Sperlari holds a particularly significant position in the torrone (nougat) market, where the brand accounts for a 38.2% value share in modern retail, according to Circana sell-out data updated as of January 11, 2026.

“When I think of the Sperlari Group’s 190-year history, I think first and foremost of the trust that so many generations have placed in us and the responsibility to continue earning that trust tomorrow. We are fortunate to be the stewards of brands that are part of people’s lives, but we know this bond cannot be taken for granted: it must be nurtured every day by listening to those who choose us and having the courage to change when necessary,” comments Riccardo Viani, CEO of Sperlari. “In the coming years, we want to continue investing in the people, skills, and ideas that will enable us to tackle new challenges, while maintaining the passion for our work that has been with us since the very beginning. I would like that, many years from now, future generations might recognize in Sperlari the same value it has represented for those who came before them, finding in it something new and, at the same time, deeply familiar.”

To celebrate the anniversary, during the Cremona Torrone Festival (November 7-22), an illustrated chronology in ink will be on public display beneath the Loggia dei Militi, retracing the company’s key milestones and bringing the story of its 190-year journey to the heart of the city. The project also includes a commemorative book, which compiles events, anecdotes, images, and testimonials, along with a section dedicated to the voices of the employees.