Italian combine builds IN UK

SOME of today's international catering equipment conglomerates are getting so diverse that it must be hard for individual member companies to keep track of all the changes, let alone users of the various equipment brands.

The Big Three European-owned groups - Electrolux, Berisford (now known as Enodis and owner of a sizeable clutch of major names including Welbilt, Convotherm, Viscount and most recently Merrychef) and the ALI Group - all continue to be very acquisitive and there are still plenty of opportunities to fill gaps in their multi-national portfolios.

Italy's ALI Group operates 12 manufacturing sites in Italy. Germany, Switzerland, The USA, Canada, the UK and Spain with 21 major catering equipment brand-names. The group originated in 1963 as Comenda, producing commercial warewashing equipment, and found-er Luciano Berti is still chairman, main shareholder and driving force of the organisation. Latest annual sales for the group are £275m.

The group is notable for the brands it has accumulated - many of which, like Carpigiani, Lainox and Comenda, are well-known to UK buyers. Latest acquisition, of Australia-headquartered Moffat brings in the Blue Seal UK business.

ALI is also notable for its decentralised structure, which contrasts with that of some of its multi-national competitors. ALI aims to build up specific strengths and "centres of excellence" across key segments - particularly evident in warewashing, cooking equipment and ice cream makers - but group philosophy is to regard individual group companies as separate identifiable entities with their own names, profit centres and management teams.

"The key to ALI's success has been in maintaining the autonomy of the companies involved," comments Martin Allen, Blue Seal's UK general manager. "That makes itself-sufficient and brings out its best strengths within the organisation. Blue Seal is very strong in its branding and has built up specific product strengths," he points out. "I hope that we will remain as Blue Seal and, looking at other ALI group firms, that seems to be the way it goes."

ALI is best-known in the UK for its ownership of the Yorkshire-based Dawson MMP business, which became part of ALI in 1991. It is the exclusive UK distributor of ALI brands such as Comenda (warewashing), Lainox (combi-steamers), Silko and Mareno (cooking suites).