What Gruppo Elah Dufour does

Gruppo Elah Dufour S.p.A. is a privately-held Italian confectionery group headquartered in Novi Ligure (legal seat in Genova), controlling a portfolio of heritage brands: Novi (chocolate bars, pralines, Crema Novi hazelnut spread, since 1903), Elah (dessert mixes, toffees, since 1909), Dufour (candies, fruit jellies, licorice, since 1926), and Baratti & Milano (premium confections, acquired 1999). The group manufactures at two Italian plants — a 60,000 sqm facility in Novi Ligure and a 10,000 sqm facility in Bra — using proprietary processes including low-temperature cocoa roasting, variable-speed conching calibrated to cocoa paste content, and post-roast vacuum packaging of hazelnuts. Vertically integrated sourcing covers 100% Italian hazelnuts (Tonda Gentile from 500+ Piedmont growers via Coldiretti) and Arriba Nacional cocoa from Ecuador.

The business sells through traditional Italian retail and grocery channels as the primary route to market, supplemented by a company-owned e-commerce storefront (shop.elah-dufour.it) and the first company-operated physical retail location — Novi Cioccolateria — opened October 12, 2024 in Novi Ligure. International revenue is driven through a wholly-owned French distribution subsidiary, Novi France (est. 2001), with Crema Novi accounting for approximately 80% of French turnover. The group reports FSSC 22000 v6.0 food safety certification (TÜV NORD CERT, 2018), publishes a GRI-standards sustainability report, and operates a 2018-installed cogeneration plant covering 78% of factory electrical needs. Ownership rests with the Repetto family; founder Flavio Repetto passed in September 2023, with his son Guido Repetto now serving as CEO.

Name

Gruppo Elah Dufour

Legal name

Gruppo Elah Dufour S.p.A.

Website

https://elah-dufour.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Gruppo Elah Dufour is a privately-held Italian confectionery group producing chocolate (Novi), candies (Dufour), dessert mixes and toffees (Elah), and premium confections (Baratti & Milano) at plants in Novi Ligure and Bra, selling primarily through Italian retail with European distribution via Novi France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Confectionery Manufacturing

NAICS

Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing (3113), Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing from Cacao Beans (311351), Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing (31134)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Cookies & Crackers (2052)

akta.pro primary industry

Pastry, Cakes & Tortes Manufacturing (AFAKAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cookies, Biscuits & Crackers (CRADABAD), Crackers & Savory Biscuits Manufacturing (AFAKAIAJ)

Keywords

• Chocolate bars
• Hazelnut spread
• Confectionery manufacturing
• Italian candies
• Dessert mixes

Headquarters

HQ city

Novi Ligure

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product sales — confectionery: Revenue is generated from the sale of chocolate products (Novi brand), confectionery/candies (Dufour brand), and dessert/cake powdered mixes (Elah brand), sold through retail channels, the company's own e-commerce store, and the Novi Cioccolateria physical retail location. International revenue is driven through Novi France subsidiary and distribution across Europe.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Gruppo Elah Dufour is an Italian confectionery manufacturer that produces and sells chocolates, candies, dessert mixes, and hazelnut spreads under three historic brands (Novi, Dufour, and Elah). Products include chocolate bars, pralines, fruit jellies, hard and gummy candies, toffees, milk tablets, and powdered preparations for puddings and cakes. The company controls the full production chain at its plants in Novi Ligure and Bra, sourcing raw materials including Italian Piedmont hazelnuts (via a Coldiretti partnership with 500+ growers) and Arriba Nacional cocoa from Ecuador.

Product overview

Gruppo Elah Dufour is an Italian confectionery group formed by merging three historical brands (Elah, Dufour, and Novi) under founder Flavio Repetto in 1982-1985. The company operates as a multi-brand portfolio with Elah focused on dessert mixes and toffees (since 1909), Dufour on high-quality candies including fruit jellies and gummies (since 1926), and Novi on chocolate specialties including bars, pralines, and the Crema Novi hazelnut spread (since 1903). The Group also acquired Baratti & Milano in 1999. Production facilities are located in Novi Ligure (60,000 sqm headquarters) and Bra (10,000 sqm for Baratti & Milano products). The company controls its entire supply chain from Ecuadorian cocoa and Italian hazelnuts (primarily Tonda Gentile from Piedmont) to finished products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Elah: From 1909, produces dessert mixes, powdered preparations for puddings, cakes, toffee candies, and milk tablets.
• Dufour
• Novi
• Baratti & Milano

Products and services

• Novi Chocolate Bars and Pralines Flagship chocolate product line of Gruppo Elah Dufour, including the Nocciolato bar with whole Italian hazelnuts, the Nero Nero line (70-99% cocoa), Gianduiotti pralines, and holiday specialities. Sold to consumers through Italian retail, e-commerce, and European channels via Novi France.
• Crema Novi Hazelnut and Cocoa Spread Hazelnut and cocoa spread with 45% Italian hazelnut content, no palm oil, no added fats, intended for breakfast, snacks, or dessert use. Highest hazelnut content spread on the market.
• Elah Dessert Mixes, Toffees and Milk Tablets Powdered preparations for home-made patisserie including puddings, panna cotta, crème caramel and cake mixes, plus Cubik and Kremliquirizia toffees and Lattelah milk tablets. Targeted at Italian consumers for home dessert preparation.
• Dufour Candies Range of Italian candies under the Dufour brand including fruit jellies (Big Frut with 22% fruit juice), hard candies (GocciaMenta, GhiaccioMenta, Selz Soda), gummy candies (Morabon licorice gummies), and sugar-free options (Morabon Stevia, Extreme, Mentafresh). Sold to consumers through retail and grocery channels.
• Dufour Licorice Products Licorice-based products produced by the Dufour brand including Morabon licorice gummies, addressing the consumer segment seeking licorice-based Italian confectionery.
• Baratti & Milano Premium Chocolates and Candies Premium chocolates and candies produced at the Bra (Cuneo) plant under the Baratti & Milano brand, a historic confectionery company acquired in 1999. Includes products associated with the prestigious Caffè Baratti & Milano opened in 1875 in Turin.
• Novi Cioccolateria Retail Store Flagship physical retail location in Novi Ligure where all products from the Elah, Dufour, and Novi brands are sold together for the first time, addressing Italian consumer demand for an in-person heritage chocolate experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Novi leads Italian chocolate bar market with 40% of dark chocolate bars sold in Italy
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• ColdiretticoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Coldiretti partnership for supply of Italian hazelnuts from Piedmont region. Renewed in June 2024 until 2029, extended from provinces of Asti and Alessandria to the entire Piedmont region covering over 500 hazelnut growers for over 10,000 quintals of locally sourced hazelnuts annually. Zero KM food-chain agreement.
• Giro d'Italia (Cycling's Tour of Italy)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Since 2020, Novi is named 'Official chocolate' of the Giro d'Italia. The brand has been visible in all 21 stages with signage along the route, in Start and Arrival areas, and product-placement activations in Hospitality areas. Novi was visible at the 2019 11th stage from Carpi to Novi Ligure as well.
• Gruppo Marengo di AlbaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Co-development partner in the installation of the new green energy plant at the Novi Ligure production site in 2018. The new energy plant supplies 78% of the factory's electrical energy needs and 100% of warm-water needs, making the site substantially autonomous in energy requirements.
• Monferrato Basket / Junior CasaleflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2010Title sponsor of Monferrato Basket (Serie B basketball, formerly Junior Casale). The Group was main sponsor of Junior Casale for 8 years including debut season in Serie A in 2011-2012. Novipiù Campus (youth basketball development program founded 2018) and Novipiù Cup (U15 tournament launched 2012) are also part of this sponsorship portfolio.
• University of Gastronomic Science (Pollenzo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElah Dufour Novi is a Strategic Partner of the University of Gastronomic Science in Pollenzo since its foundation. They participate in classes with keynote speeches and develop training courses, analysis, and innovation projects. Also partners with Agenzia di Pollenzo, a historic complex built in 1833 renovated from 2000 which houses the University.
• Teatro Nazionale di Genova (Genoa National Theatre)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerElah Dufour Novi is a supporter of the Genoa National Theatre, which combines nearly 100 years of theater with devotion to prose, ballet, and music. Also a supporter of Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, one of Italy's most popular theaters for Opera, Ballet, and Concert Season.
• ASD Novi Hockey-in-line and Forza e Virtù Novi Gymnastic ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupport for local sports activities in Novi Ligure area, including ASD Novi Hockey-in-line (U12, U16, Serie C) and 'Forza e Virtù' Novi gymnastic club, founded in 1892.
• Turin Book FairminorGTM or Marketing PartnerElah Dufour Novi supported the activities of the Turin Book Fair for five years as part of cultural sponsorship initiatives.
• Amerigo Vespucci (Italian Navy Training Ship)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership between Novi and the Italian Navy training ship Amerigo Vespucci, united by shared values of passion, love for quality, high respect for tradition and Italian spirit.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ferrero: Italian family-owned chocolate and confectionery multinational headquartered in Alba (Piedmont), the same region as Elah Dufour's hazelnut supply. Direct peer across chocolate bars (Kinder, Mon Chéri vs. Novi), hazelnut spreads (Nutella vs. Crema Novi), and pralines (Ferrero Rocher vs. Gianduiotti). Both compete for the same Piedmont hazelnut pool.
• Venchi: Italian premium chocolate maker founded in 1878 in Piedmont, focused on gianduiotto, dark chocolate bars, spreads, and gelato ingredients. Operates its own retail stores (similar DTC strategy to Novi Cioccolateria) and competes head-to-head in the Italian premium chocolate segment. Comparable heritage, Piedmont sourcing, and multi-channel go-to-market.
• Caffarel: Historic Turin-based Italian chocolate company credited with inventing the Gianduiotto praline in 1865 (the format Novi also produces). Acquired by Lindt in 1997. Direct competitor in Piedmont-style chocolate and pralines, sharing the same Tonda Gentile hazelnut supply chain.
• Perfetti Van Melle: Italian-Dutch confectionery multinational (Mentos, Chupa Chups, Vivident, Brooklyn gum) headquartered in Lainate near Milan. Closest direct peer to the Dufour brand portfolio (sugar candies, fruit jellies, gummies, licorice) and competes in Italian grocery channels for similar shelf space and consumer occasions.
• Perugina (Nestlé Italia): Historic Italian chocolate brand (founded 1907 in Perugia), maker of Baci Perugina and Luisa chocolates, owned by Nestlé. Direct competitor in Italian chocolate bars and gift pralines, with overlapping retail-grocery distribution. Both brands rely on Italy-led marketing (Perugina's Baci messaging vs. Novi's "Svizzero? No, Novi!").
• Domori: Italian premium chocolate maker founded in 1997 (now owned by Illy group), specializing in single-origin fine cacao from Ecuador, Venezuela, and Madagascar. Comparable in single-origin Arriba Nacional cocoa sourcing philosophy and premium Italian positioning, though Domori skews more fine-dining/specialty while Elah Dufour is broader mass-premium.
• Lindt & Sprüngli: Swiss premium chocolate multinational owning Caffarel in Italy. Competes across dark chocolate bars (Lindt Excellence vs. Novi Nero Nero 70-99%), pralines (Lindt Lindor vs. Novi Gianduiotti), and spreads. Comparable premium positioning, FSSC/IFS-equivalent quality controls, and 100+ year heritage brand-building playbook.

Emerging players

• Streglio: Italian premium chocolate maker from Piedmont producing gianduiotto and pralines for retail and gifting. Smaller and more focused than Elah Dufour but competes in the same Piedmont artisan chocolate segment with similar ingredient-quality positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Barilla Group: Largest Italian food company (pasta, sauces, baked goods) headquartered in Parma. While not a confectionery pure-play, Barilla operates across Italian grocery, exports globally under Italian heritage brands, and competes for the same Italian retail shelf space and consumer pantry occasions that Elah Dufour targets through Elah dessert mixes and NoviBloc baking chocolate.
• Mars Italia (Mars, Inc.): Global confectionery multinational (M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Dove) operating in Italy through Mars Italia. Competes broadly for chocolate and confectionery occasions and shelf space, though at mainstream price points rather than Elah Dufour's premium-Italian niche. Useful benchmark for global confectionery scale and category trends.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elah-dufour-spa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Gruppo Elah Dufour