Waico

What Waico does

Waico Group (WAICO SRL) is an Italian manufacturer of professional equipment for the bakery, pizza, and pastry ("arte bianca") sectors, headquartered in Isola Vicentina with an oven production facility in Pesaro. The group operates as a multi-brand industrial holding combining five established sub-brands — Starmix (planetary mixers), Vitella (dividers and rounders), Effedue (spiral mixers), Flamic (dough sheeters), and Italforni (electric and gas ovens) — each with 30+ years of manufacturing heritage. In May 2026 the group acquired two additional oven brands, Logiudice and Mecateck, extending its oven portfolio. The group is backed by private equity fund Mindful Capital Partners, which supported the 2021 formation of the consolidated entity and the 2023 industrial integration into the new Isola Vicentina headquarters.

The product range spans the full dough and baking production process: mixing, dividing/rounding, sheeting, and baking. Notable technical features include the Diamond panoramic 360° center-room oven, the Bull glass-coated modular electric oven, the Caruso electric oven for Neapolitan pizza, UNIMIX and SUPREME spiral mixers, FAST700 automatic sheeters with touch-screen recipe storage, and PL-series planetary mixers with electronic inverter speed control. The group holds CE, CB, and EAC certifications for export to Eurasian markets. Customers include artisan pizzerias, bakeries, confectioneries, and semi-industrial/industrial food producers across 137 export countries.

Waico generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of machines and ovens via a global network of dealers and resellers, complemented by direct showroom sales at its two Italian sites and the Waico Lab professional testing facility at Isola Vicentina. Pricing is quote-based with no public list pricing. Group-level revenue was €35M for fiscal year 2025, with 15,100 machines produced annually, 2,657 active clients served, and 120 consolidated employees across 15,200 sqm of facilities. Marketing relies on multi-language digital content, presence at major international trade fairs (SIGEP, HOST, IBA, Gulfood Manufacturing, IGEHO), the Masterclass Project educational content series, the Italforni Live Baking roadshow, and activation of the Italian Iperammortamento 2026 fiscal incentive program offering up to 43.2% tax savings on qualifying purchases.

Name

Waico

Legal name

WAICO SRL

Website

https://waicogroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Waico Group is an Italian PE-backed manufacturer of professional bakery, pizza, and pastry equipment, operating five sub-brands (Starmix, Vitella, Effedue, Flamic, Italforni) plus recently acquired Logiudice and Mecateck. It sells mixers, dividers, sheeters, and ovens to artisan and industrial bakeries and pizzerias in 137 countries, with €35M in FY2025 revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Marano Vicentino

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Machines: Sale of professional bakery equipment including planetary mixers (Starmix), spiral mixers (Effedue), divider-rounders (Vitella), and dough sheeters (Flamic) to artisan and industrial bakeries, pizzerias, and confectioneries worldwide.
2. Hardware Sales - Ovens: Sale of professional electric and gas ovens under the Italforni brand, including Caruso, Diamond, Bull, and Visor product lines, serving pizzerias, bakeries, confectioneries, and industrial food production.
3. Professional Services & Testing: Waico Lab offers free machine testing sessions and consultation services at the Isola Vicentina headquarters, where professionals can test machines with their own doughs and recipes under controlled conditions.
4. Acquisition of Logiudice + Mecateck: Waico Group expanded its oven portfolio through the strategic acquisition of Logiudice and Mecateck brands, specialized in professional ovens for bakery, pizza, and pastry applications.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Waico Group designs, manufactures and sells professional machines and ovens for the bakery, pizza and pastry industry worldwide. The portfolio, sold under five heritage Italian sub-brands (Starmix planetary mixers, Vitella dividers and rounders, Italforni electric and gas ovens, Flamic dough sheeters, Effedue spiral mixers) and two recently acquired oven brands (Logiudice, Mecateck), covers every phase of dough processing from mixing through baking for artisan and industrial food producers.

Product overview

Waico Group is an Italian manufacturer of professional machines and ovens for the bakery, pizza and pastry industry. The company operates as a multi-brand portfolio under a unified corporate umbrella, consisting of five core sub-brands: Starmix (planetary mixers), Vitella (dividers and rounders), Italforni (electric and gas ovens), Flamic (dough sheeters), and Effedue (spiral mixers). In 2026, the group expanded through the acquisition of Logiudice and Mecateck (oven manufacturers). Each brand offers specialized product lines with multiple models targeting artisan laboratories, industrial production, and food service sectors. The portfolio is unified by shared R&D, manufacturing integration, and a professional testing facility called Waico Lab.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Starmix: Planetary mixers for artisan and industrial confectionery. Robust and high-performance mixers supporting demanding professionals in cream production and special dough preparation.
• Vitella
• Italforni
• Flamic
• Effedue
• Logiudice
• Mecateck

Products and services

• Starmix Planetary Mixers Professional planetary mixers for artisan and industrial confectionery, offering high-performance mixing for cream production and special dough preparation. Sold to bakeries, pastry labs, and industrial food producers.
• Vitella Dividers and Rounders Automatic, semi-automatic and manual divider and rounder machines for bread and pizza dough processing, with hydraulic drive and distinctive functional design. Targets bakeries, pizzerias and confectioneries.
• Italforni Professional Ovens Professional electric and gas ovens with unique design and advanced technology for pizzeria, bakery, confectionery, delicatessen and industrial sectors. Sold to pizzerias, bakeries, confectioneries, and food producers worldwide.
• Flamic Dough Sheeters Manual and automatic dough sheeters for the millimetric lamination of dough strips to produce puff pastry, croissants, shortcrust pastry and pizza. International benchmark product serving bakeries, confectioneries, restaurants, pizzerias and delicatessens.
• Effedue Spiral Mixers Spiral mixers with high quality standards suitable for all types of dough processing for pizzeria, bakery and confectionery sectors. Automatic and industrial models available, with continuous R&D for high quality standards.
• Logiudice Professional Ovens Professional ovens for bakery, pizza and pastry applications, acquired by Waico Group to expand the group's oven portfolio and complement Italforni.
• Mecateck Professional Ovens Professional ovens for bakery, pizza and pastry applications, acquired by Waico Group to expand the group's oven portfolio.
• Waico Lab Testing Service Professional testing laboratory at Isola Vicentina where bakery, pizza and pastry professionals can test Waico machines and ovens using their own doughs and recipes under controlled professional conditions before purchase.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 43.2% fiscal savings available through the Italian Iperammortamento 2026 tax incentive program for qualifying equipment purchases
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• Logiudice + MecateckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026Waico Group acquired the Logiudice and Mecateck brands, both specialized in the production of professional ovens for bakery and pastry applications. The acquisition aims to enhance complementary skills and know-how, generate industrial and commercial synergies, and accelerate development in international markets.
• Grupo Man PanregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 April 2026Premium commercial partner in Peru organizing exclusive 2-day masterclass events for Waico Group brands in the Latin American market. Collaborated on masterclass events in Lima (April 2026) and Gastromaq trade fair (July 2025).
• JOPANregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 March 2026Portuguese commercial partner of Waico Group, hosting the group's exhibition at TECNIPÃO 2026 in Porto (March 6-9, 2026) at stand 6E9 in Exponor.
• ICE (Italian Trade Agency) and AVPN (Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana)regionalGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 November 2025Waico Group participated at IGEHO Basel 2025 with EFFEDUE, VITELLA, and ITALFORNI brands in a dedicated space celebrating Neapolitan pizza production, in collaboration with ICE (Italian Trade Agency) and AVPN (Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana).
• Sara De BellisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2025Sara De Bellis moderated the Masterclass Project video series, which features exclusive interviews and educational content with leading bakery, pizza, and pastry professionals.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Middleby Corporation: US-listed global leader in commercial foodservice equipment through brands like TurboChef, Blodgett, and Viking. Overlaps with Waico in pizza ovens and bakery equipment but operates at much larger scale across a broad foodservice portfolio.
• Ali Group: Italian-headquartered multinational foodservice equipment group owning dozens of brands (Hobart, Welbilt legacy brands, etc.). Provides a public, scaled analog to Waico's multi-brand industrial platform model.
• Rational AG: German manufacturer of professional combi-ovens for foodservice kitchens. Adjacent incumbent competing for the same professional kitchen oven budget that Waico targets, particularly in the Visor and Caruso oven segments.

Direct peers

• MIWE: German manufacturer of commercial bakery ovens, proofers, and refrigeration equipment. Most direct comparable for Waico's Italforni oven portfolio in Europe, serving the same artisan and industrial bakery customers.
• Polin Group: Italian industrial bakery equipment manufacturer offering ovens, mixers, and complete turnkey plant solutions. Direct competitor with similar geographic footprint and customer base to Waico.
• Bongard: French manufacturer of professional bakery ovens and equipment with strong European dealer presence. Overlaps with Waico in ovens, prover/retarders, and complete line installations for bakeries and pastry shops.
• Wachtel: German manufacturer of commercial rack ovens and bakery equipment, especially strong in European industrial bakeries. Closely comparable product line and customer segment to Waico's Italforni ovens.
• Sottoriva: Italian manufacturer of spiral mixers, ovens, and bread lines. Direct competitor in the artisan bakery and pizzeria equipment category where Effedue and Italforni operate.
• Rondo (WP BAKON Group): Swiss manufacturer of industrial bakery equipment including ovens, mixers, and dough handling systems. Direct comparable in the industrial bakery segment with similar full-line value proposition.
• Kaiser Pâtisserie: Austrian manufacturer of professional pastry, bakery, and chocolate equipment with global distribution. Closely comparable to Waico's pastry segment (Starmix + Flamic sheeters) in technology and customer profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Waico