Colla

What Colla does

Colla S.p.A. (also known as Caseificio Colla) is a fourth-generation, family-owned Italian dairy company founded in 1921 in Cadeo, province of Piacenza, and currently operating as an independent private Società per Azioni. The company's core business is the production, aging, and distribution of premium Italian hard cheeses under PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) designations — specifically Grana Padano, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Pecorino Romano — alongside other hard cheese varieties. Colla operates a vertically integrated production footprint across six facilities in northern Italy (Cadeo, Barabasca, Fidenza, Cella, Tartaglia, Rottofreno) with a combined aging capacity exceeding 1,055,000 cheese wheels; the Barabasca facility is described as the largest single aging site for Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano in Europe.

The company sells under multiple owned brands (Gran Duca, Colla Maestri Formaggiai, Il Formaggiaro, Gran Formaggio Italiano, La Grattugiata) and supplies Italian retailers' private label programs, which have been a leadership position since the early 1990s. Distribution channels span domestic retail private label contracts, international food service distributors, and a network of importers in 46 countries across five continents, supported by participation in major trade exhibitions (Anuga, Cibus, Gulfood, B2Cheese). The go-to-market motion is sales-led B2B, with quotes priced per volume, cheese type, aging duration, and format. Quality assurance is anchored in BRC and IFS certifications (both held at the top score tier), CSQA and OCQPR third-party PDO compliance, and ICEA organic certification for select product lines. The most recent capital investment — the Fidenza facility, opened 2019–2022 — adds 350,000 wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano aging capacity and packaging infrastructure on 35,000 sqm, with 50% of energy self-produced via solar panels.

Name

Colla

Legal name

Colla S.p.A.

Website

https://collaspa.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Colla S.p.A. is a fourth-generation Italian family-owned dairy founded in 1921 that produces, ages, and distributes premium PDO hard cheeses — Grana Padano, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Pecorino Romano — serving Italian retail private label chains, food service distributors, and importers across 46 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Italian Hard Cheese Production

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cheese Aging/Affineur Services (Maturation & Cave-Aging) (AFAHABAH), Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC), Grated, Shredded & Sliced Cheese Manufacturing (Value-Added Cuts) (AFAHABAF)

Keywords

• Italian hard cheese production
• Grana Padano PDO
• Parmigiano Reggiano PDO
• Pecorino Romano PDO
• Cheese aging and maturation

Headquarters

HQ city

Cadeo

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cheese Product Sales: Colla generates revenue through production and sale of hard Italian cheeses including Grana Padano PDO, Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, Pecorino Romano PDO, and other hard cheeses. The company sells whole wheels, portioned cuts, grated, and flaked formats under owned brands (Gran Duca, Colla Maestri Formaggiai, Il Formaggiaro, Gran Formaggio Italiano, La Grattugiata) as well as private label for retailers. Revenue is derived from both domestic Italian market and export sales to 46 countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Colla S.p.A. is a fourth-generation Italian family-owned cheese manufacturer that produces, ages, and sells premium PDO hard cheeses including Grana Padano, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Pecorino Romano. The company supplies whole wheels, portions, grated, flaked, and cubed formats to retail chains, food service distributors, and private label programs across 46 countries. Operations span six facilities in Italy with combined aging capacity exceeding 1 million cheese wheels.

Product overview

Colla S.p.A is an Italian cheese company operating as a single unified product portfolio focused on premium hard cheeses. The company produces and sells three main PDO cheeses (Grana Padano, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Pecorino Romano) along with other hard cheeses, all distributed under multiple sub-brands. The main brands include Gran Duca (historical premium brand), Colla Maestri Formaggiai (family tradition), Il Formaggiaro (younger aging), Gran Formaggio Italiano (slow-ripened with vegetarian rennet), and La Grattugiata (cheese blends). Products are available in various formats including whole wheels, portions (vacuum-packed from 150g to 2kg), grated (bags and trays from 80g to 5kg), flakes, cubes, and special cuts. The company operates aging facilities with capacity for over 990,000 cheese wheels and exports to 46 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gran Duca: The company's historic brand, born in the early 1990s with the first cheeses made in new facilities built by the Colla family. Communicates quality, careful selection, care, and territory.
• Colla Maestri Formaggiai
• Il Formaggiaro
• Gran Formaggio Italiano
• La Grattugiata

Products and services

• Grana Padano PDO PDO-certified hard cheese produced within the Grana Padano designated area under consortium authorization (matricules PC524, PC527, PC523). Available in whole wheels, portions, grated, flakes, and cubes for retail, food service, and private label customers.
• Parmigiano Reggiano PDO PDO-certified hard cheese produced exclusively at the Cella dairy (matricule 700) in provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, and parts of Mantua and Bologna. Available in various aging periods and formats for B2B customers.
• Pecorino Romano PDO

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Consortium for the Protection of Grana PadanocoreOthersOfficial consortium ensuring compliance with Grana Padano PDO production regulations. Colla produces Grana Padano under consortium authorization with assigned production matricules.
• Consortium for the Protection of Parmigiano ReggianocoreOthersOfficial consortium protecting Parmigiano Reggiano PDO. Colla produces Parmigiano Reggiano at Cella dairy (matricule 700) under consortium authorization.
• ICEA ConsortiumminorOthersICEA is the certifying body for organic products, authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture. Provides organic certification for Colla's biological product lines.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Granarolo: Italy's largest dairy cooperative and a major producer of Parmigiano Reggiano and other hard cheeses, with comparable B2B supply to Italian retail and foodservice. Directly overlaps with Colla on PDO hard cheese production, aging infrastructure, and private label supply.
• Zanetti S.p.A. Italian family-owned dairy group specializing in aged hard cheeses including Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano, with significant aging and packaging operations. Closely comparable to Colla on product mix, B2B private label model, and export orientation.
• Ambrosi S.p.A. Italian hard cheese specialist producing Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, and Pecorino Romano with a strong export-led B2B model. Directly comparable to Colla on PDO portfolio, private label capabilities, and international distribution focus.
• Parmareggio: Brand and producer of Parmigiano Reggiano within the Granterre cooperative, with both branded retail and private label operations. Overlaps with Colla on Parmigiano Reggiano production, aging, and Italian/international retail distribution.
• Latteria Soresina: Italian dairy cooperative producing Grana Padano and other dairy products with a strong B2B and private label orientation. Comparable to Colla on PDO hard cheese focus, cooperative production model, and Italian retail supply relationships.
• Casearia Monti S.r.l. Italian cheese processor focused on Grana Padano and other aged hard cheeses, supplying Italian and international retail channels. Comparable to Colla in product mix, B2B private label model, and export presence.
• Auricchio S.p.A. Italian cheese producer historically known for Provolone and other hard/semi-hard cheeses, with international B2B distribution. Comparable to Colla on aged Italian cheese production, branded and private label supply, and export footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Lactalis Italia (Parmalat): Italian subsidiary of the global Lactalis dairy group, producing Parmalat-branded milk and a wide portfolio of cheeses including hard cheeses. Overlaps with Colla in B2B dairy supply but at much larger and more diversified scale.
• Bel Group: Global dairy and cheese group (The Laughing Cow, Babybel, Kiri) with significant Italian cheese operations including hard cheese production. Comparable as a broad incumbent in cheese processing and B2B distribution, though not specialized in aged PDO.

Regional players

• Igor S.r.l. Italian specialty cheese producer focused primarily on Gorgonzola but with broader hard and blue cheese portfolio. Comparable to Colla as a regional Italian cheese producer, though with a different cheese category focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/554404044659587
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colla-spa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Colla