The Group is accelerating its South American growth strategy through a twofold transaction: the acquisition of a Uruguayan company and the full absorption of its Brazilian subsidiary. The Group is targeting €190 million in revenue in 2025 (+10%) versus 2024.
Sacco System is stepping up its international expansion and is setting its sights firmly on South America. The biotech Group headquartered in Cadorago (Como, Italy), specialized in the production of microbial cultures and probiotics for the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and agro-veterinary sectors, announces the acquisition of the Uruguayan company BioInsumos and the full integration of Sacco Brasil, its commercial division already operating in the country. These will henceforth be known as Sacco System Uruguay and Sacco System Brasil, respectively.
This dual acquisition forms part of the Group’s international growth strategy. Sacco System operates in more than 110 countries and expects pro-forma consolidated revenue of €190 million in 2025, up 10% year-on-year. The transaction strengthens the brand’s presence in existing markets and opens up new development opportunities, further consolidating Sacco System’s position among the leading international players in the sector.
A targeted expansion strategy
Latin America is a strategic region for companies in the biotechnology and food industries. Growing demand for innovative solutions, together with the expansion of the probiotics and supplements market, makes the region particularly attractive for international operators.
The Latin American dairy sector—where Sacco System is consolidating its presence—is worth between USD 45 and 55 billion and is forecast to grow at 4.5% per year through 2034. This growth is driven by rising domestic consumption, the expansion of agribusiness, and increasing demand for high value-added ingredients.
The acquisition of BioInsumos (now Sacco System Uruguay) enables Sacco System to deepen local expertise, leverage established distribution networks, and strengthen its understanding of the dynamics of the Uruguayan market and neighboring countries. Although relatively small in size, Uruguay has traditionally served as an important gateway to Mercosur, the free-trade area that includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and other South American countries.
At the same time, the incorporation of Sacco System Brasil into the Group underscores the growing importance of the Brazilian market in Sacco System’s strategy. Brazil—with more than 200 million inhabitants and one of the world’s most developed agri-food industries—offers significant growth opportunities in both the dairy sector and in fermented products and nutraceuticals.
Strengthening the local presence means not only increasing production and distribution capacity, but also bringing research and development closer to the specific needs of the South American market, which is shaped by climatic, regulatory, and consumer characteristics that differ from Europe.
“This investment in South America confirms the Group’s determination to pursue its global vision, in a context that is particularly favorable to biotechnological innovation and the scaling up of operations,” says Carlo Appennini, Executive Director Food at Sacco System. “The experience developed by BioInsumos and Sacco Brasil is, in this sense, a crucial added value, allowing us to operate closer to local markets, improve our responsiveness, and tailor solutions more effectively.”
Growth in numbers
Sacco System has an industrial and commercial structure with a strong international footprint, built on an integrated network of distributors, agents, and technologists, and on a production perimeter comprising eight plants and four laboratories across Europe, Asia, Australia, Latin America, and the United States. In Italy, the Group operates through the sites of Cadorago—home to Sacco and Caglificio Clerici—Zelo Buon Persico, headquarters of the Centro Sperimentale del Latte, and Camerino, where Synbiotec is based. Internationally, the Group is present in France, Sweden, the United States, Singapore, Japan, and Australia, confirming a direct presence in its key reference markets.
The revenue mix reflects a well-established strategy of geographic diversification: 65% of revenue comes from exports, while the Italian market accounts for the remaining 35%. Latin America stands out for its dynamism, with a particular focus on Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina, while Mexico is the main contributor in Central America.
The global dairy market continues to expand, with estimates placing it at USD 648.8 billion in 2025 and an average annual growth rate of 4.59% through 2033. Europe remains a key market: while it represents about a quarter of volumes, it accounts for 30–35% of value thanks to premium cheeses and ingredients, with more moderate growth of 1.4% per year. North America maintains a solid position, with expected values of USD 144.6 billion in 2025 and a projected growth rate of 3.84%. Asia-Pacific, meanwhile, is emerging as the most dynamic region, with forecast annual growth of 7.10%, confirming it as a frontier of opportunity.
In this context, market distribution and global trends offer Sacco System—thanks to its broad reach—strong growth opportunities in the highest-potential regions, in line with a geographic balancing strategy that helps mitigate country risk and capture areas with the highest growth rates.