Group
A system of companies built on research and development.
In 2016, the Sacco System business network was established, comprising Caglificio Clerici spa, Sacco srl, Centro Sperimentale del Latte srl and Kemikalia SA. (now Sacco System Nordic). In 2021, it became Sacco System Holding.
The Verga family, which has led the company for five generations, is looking to the future and further strengthening synergies across the group to achieve structured, sustainable international growth in the years ahead.
With this new corporate structure, the Group aims to meet the challenge of international expansion and bring even greater value to the market—not only in financial and asset terms, but also in terms of brand and business—through an increasingly open approach to innovation and growth.
Sacco System is a “microbial innovator”: we research, study and develop microorganisms to improve the lives of people, animals and plants.
Lactic cultures, probiotics, enzymes and many other ingredients that promote well-being.
The people of Sacco System will continue to play a vital role in strengthening the Group’s position in the biotechnology market and building an increasingly strong and recognised brand.
The story of Caglificio Clerici is, above all, a family story, over 150 years of passion for research and‘Made-in-Italy technological innovation.
Founded in 1872 in Cadorago, Caglificio Clerici specialises in the production of rennet, coagulants and other enzymes for the dairy industry.
Today, the company is passionately led by the fourth and fifth generations of founder Martino Clerici’s descendants and is part of the Sacco System Group.
History
Martino Clerici establishes Caglificio Clerici in Cadorago, near Lake Como and 40 km from Milan. The company produces rennet paste on a small scale, extracting the enzyme from calves’ stomachs.
Martino is succeeded by his son Francesco, who expands the family business and adds liquid rennet production.
It is a turning point marked by innovation and growth.
The third generation takes over the management of Caglificio Clerici: Florinda Clerici and her husband Ermanno Verga introducepowdered rennet, which extends shelf life while preserving all the benefits of a natural product.
Caglificio Clerici begins exporting its products to America, before expanding into other countries.
Caglificio Clerici acquires a significant stake in Caglio Star, in the province of Vicenza.
In addition to exporting its products throughout Europe, Clerici brings its expertise, quality and tradition to South America.
The quality of Caglificio Clerici is officially recognised with ISO 9001 certification.
The company acquires a majority stake in Fabre, an Italian rennet manufacturer, further strengthening its market presence.
Two new acquisitions strengthen the company and consolidate its international outlook.
Alongside the Italian company Graco, Clerici acquires a stake in the Swedish company Kemikalia: expanding its core business to include the production of vitamin supplements.
Since 2016, Caglificio Clerici spa has been part of the Sacco System Group. Sacco System is a centre of excellence for biotechnology applied to the food and health industries. “System” was chosen to express the interconnected nature of the Group’s companies (Caglificio Clerici, Sacco, Kemikalia – now Sacco System Nordic – and CSL) within a single organic and functionally integrated whole.
Sacco System embodies a shared commitment to virtuous growth: evolution beyond innovation.
Since 1934, Sacco has been an international benchmark in the biotech sector, providing advanced solutions for the research, scale-up, production and packaging of microbial cultures selected from a collection of over 6,500 strains. Sacco cultures are used in a wide range of applications, from the food industry to plant and animal well-being.
The Labware division offers a wide range of products for laboratories, companies and research centres.
The Research & Development team, the beating heart of the company, focuses on the study and development of microbial cultures to explore and identify new applications.
History
Vittorio Sacco establishes the company that bears his name.
This marks the beginning of the continued growth of a biotech company that, despite operating in a technologically advanced sector, retains the character of a people-centred business.
The Milan-based company is acquired by the Verga family of Cadorago. A new company is created in the province of Como, bringing together decades of scientific and technological expertise.
Sacco expands the marketing of its products throughout Europe and helps bring Italian expertise, quality and tradition to international markets.
Sacco strengthens its international presence by opening the Sacco Brasil sales branch, in Brazil.
Sacco’s commitment to quality throughout its business processes earns the prestigious ISO 9001 certification.
The company’s Polish subsidiary is established with the founding of Sacco Polska. Combining Italian expertise with Poland’s dairy tradition, the company creates a synergy of products, knowledge and expertise among industry professionals.
To strengthen its international presence, the company opens a representative office in India.
Sacco acquires CSL, Centro Sperimentale del Latte. The acquisition of Italy’s first company established to study and demonstrate the importance of lactic cultures in the human body gives the Group a leading position worldwide.
Since 2016, Sacco srl has been part of the Sacco System Group. Sacco System is a centre of excellence for biotechnology applied to the food and health industries. “System” was chosen to express the interconnected nature of the Group’s companies (Caglificio Clerici, Sacco, Kemikalia, CSL) within a single organic and functionally integrated whole. Sacco System embodies the concept of sharing to foster virtuous growth: evolution beyond innovation.
The history of CSL – Centro Sperimentale del Latte began in 1948, when founder Leo Vesely started studying bacteria for human health and infant nutrition.
In addition to developing probiotic solutions based on proprietary strains, CSL now offers blends formulated to meet the specific needs of customers and markets, as well as technological development services for probiotics, postbiotics, next-generation bacteria and LBPs (Live Biotherapeutic Products).
Its extensive collection of probiotic microbial strains, supported by clinical studies, is used in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical solutions for gastrointestinal, oral and skin health, women’s and children’s health and the immune system, as well as to support allergy treatment and improve sports performance.
History
Dr Leo Vesely establishes Centro Sperimentale del Latte to scientifically demonstrate theimportance of lactic cultures for the human body; Since then, CSL has pursued this philosophy, playing a leading global role in health, nutrition and food for both humans and animals.
CSL begins marketing its products in the world’s leading markets through a direct sales network and local distributors.
The agricultural and livestock division, which studies and selects specific lactic acid bacteria to provide an effective method for producing healthier silage.
Strong market demand creates the need for a new facility; that year, the company builds its Zelo Buon Persico (LO) facility, which still houses the company’s offices and production operations today.
International expansion is consolidated first through the opening of a branch in France and later through CSL France, based in Claix.
The Pasturago (MI) production facility opens and begins operations.
CSL microbial strains with functional and health-promoting properties are deposited in International Collections with IDA status.
La agricultural and livestock division CSL works to ensure profitable and healthy production at the first stage of the agri-food chain, while operating with the utmost respect for the environment.
From this year onwards, CSL’s expertise and products for its various divisions are showcased at the leading industry trade fairs in Europe and worldwide.
Since 2016, Centro Sperimentale del Latte srl has been an integral part of Sacco System, a centre of excellence for biotechnology applied to the food and health industries.
Four different companies (Sacco, Clerici, Kemikalia – now Sacco System Nordic – and CSL) are interconnected in a single network operating worldwide as an organic and functionally integrated whole, while each retains its own distinctive identity.
Sacco System embodies the concept of sharing to foster virtuous growth: evolution beyond innovation
Based in Tokyo, Sacco System Japan offers a wide range of innovative products and technical services for the promotion and sale of lactic cultures, cheese coagulants and probiotics.
Sacco System Nordic offers the Sacco System product range consisting of cultures and enzymes, including internally produced vitamins for food applications.
History
Kemikalia implements a quality management system that meets the requirements of ISO 9001.
With the entry of Caglificio Clerici into Kemikalia the company’s international outlook is strengthened, paving the way for it to become a global leader in the enzyme sector.
The company’s commitment to continuously improving its performance is rewarded with ISO 9001:2008 certification.
The Kemikalia e-shop is launched, allowing dairies and individual customers to purchase ingredients and products with ease
Since 2016, Kemikalia has been part of Sacco System, an international centre of excellence for biotechnology applied to the food and health industries.
The new company name symbolises the interconnected nature of the Group’s companies (Caglificio Clerici, Sacco, Kemikalia – now Sacco System Nordic – and CSL) within a single organic and functionally integrated whole. Sacco System embodies a commitment to sharing and virtuous growth: evolution beyond innovation.
After 108 years in business, Kemikalia changes its name to Sacco System Nordic, officially becoming Sacco System’s fully fledged subsidiary for the Nordic countries.
With offices in Shanghai and Beijing, Sacco System China specialises in lactic cultures, probiotics and enzymes. The company supports the local food and nutraceutical industries with innovative fermentation and health solutions.
Sacco System Australia was established in Brisbane in 2024. Our laboratories support companies in the development, process validation and commercial production of probiotics, postbiotics, next-generation bacteria—from obligate aerobes to strictly anaerobic strains—and live biotherapeutic products for the dietary supplement, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Based in Échirolles, Sacco System France distributes a range of culture and enzyme solutions for dairy products, meat, fish and other foods, as well as probiotics for the French market.
Based in Colonia del Sacramento, the company markets and promotes enzymes and cultures for the dairy, fish and meat sectors, while also offering probiotics and solutions for the food industry.
Operating from its Campinas headquarters, the company manages the distribution and commercial development of enzyme solutions and cultures throughout South America. Its offering is aimed at food producers—meat, fish and dairy—and the probiotics sector.
Based in Franksville, Wisconsin, CSL USA produces and markets probiotics for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications in the US market. It also provides fermentation services to Sacco System partners that own proprietary strains.
Synbiotec Laboratori was founded in 2005 as a spin-off of UNICAM – the University of Camerino. A leading company in probiotic research and development for functional foods and nutraceuticals, it has been part of the Sacco System Group since 2021. Drawing on its expertise in the development and application of live microorganisms, the company has carried out a series of research programmes to gain a deeper understanding of the properties, mechanisms and effects of its probiotic range on human and animal health.
With over 30 years of research experience, Synbiotec supplies high-quality probiotics with documented health benefits.