CIFA

What CIFA does

CIFA srl (Centro Italiano Forniture Alberghiere) is a privately held, family-owned Italian B2B distributor founded in 1982 and headquartered in Lomazzo, near the Milano-Como-Chiasso highway corridor. The company distributes professional hospitality supplies — tableware, glassware, cutlery, kitchen and bar equipment, buffet display items, professional clothing, disposable products, and cleaning and safety supplies — sourced from a curated portfolio of Italian and international brands (Spiegelau, Nachtmann, Bormioli, Bonna, Eternum, Zafferano, Royale, and others). Sales are restricted to VAT-registered hospitality professionals (Ho.Re.Ca sector: hotels, restaurants, bars, hotel chains, and catering companies), with the company operating a 6,000 sqm facility that includes a 1,300 sqm exhibition space and an integrated warehouse supporting same-day pickup.

The business runs an enterprise field-sales GTM motion centered on the Lomazzo showroom and consultant appointments, supplemented by an online quote-request system on cifasrl.it. CIFA serves 3,400 active customers, processes 150+ orders daily, and offers 18,000 SKUs across roughly a dozen major categories. A strategic partnership with Royale supports exclusive custom porcelain production, and the Cifa Kitchen Lab (inaugurated 2014) functions as a training and demonstration facility for industry professionals. The company is UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 certified (via IQNet) and emphasizes MOCA (food-contact material) compliance.

Revenue is generated through one-time wholesale transactions on a quote-based pricing model, with no public list pricing and no disclosed subscription or recurring component. Distribution is primarily domestic Italy with explicit international delivery capability, and the company maintains organic social channels (Instagram, Facebook, X) in addition to its website. Ownership and decision-making are concentrated with the Fanfarillo family (Cav. Vittorio Fanfarillo, Angelo Fanfarillo), and no external institutional investors, parent company, or public listing are reported.

Name

CIFA

Legal name

CIFA srl CENTRO ITALIANO FORNITURE ALBERGHIERE

Website

https://cifasrl.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CIFA srl is a family-owned Italian B2B distributor, founded in 1982, supplying professional tableware, glassware, cutlery, kitchen and bar equipment, and related hospitality supplies to VAT-registered hotels, restaurants, bars, and catering companies in Italy and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Supplies Distribution (Ho.Re.Ca.)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Restaurant & Commercial Kitchen Equipment Wholesale (AFAIALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Preparation Equipment & Smallwares Wholesale (AFAIALAK), Bar & Beverage Service Supplies Wholesale (AFAIALAG)

Keywords

• Hospitality supplies distribution
• Professional tableware wholesale
• Ho.Re.Ca equipment
• Commercial kitchen supplies
• Hotel restaurant supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Lomazzo

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wholesale distribution of professional hospitality supplies: CIFA generates revenue through wholesale distribution of professional hospitality equipment and supplies including porcelain, glassware, cutlery, kitchen equipment, bar accessories, buffet items, disposable products, cleaning and safety supplies, and professional clothing. The company sells directly to B2B customers (hotels, restaurants, bars, catering companies) who hold VAT numbers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CIFA is a B2B wholesale distributor that supplies professional hospitality equipment and supplies — including porcelain, glassware, cutlery, table accessories, bar tools, buffet displays, kitchen equipment, professional clothing, disposable products, and cleaning/safety items — to hotels, restaurants, bars, hotel chains, and catering companies. Sales are restricted to VAT-registered hospitality professionals and delivered through its Lomazzo showroom, online quote-request platform, and Italy/international delivery network.

Product overview

CIFA (Centro Italiano Forniture Alberghiere) is a B2B distributor of professional supplies for the hospitality industry (Ho.Re.Ca sector), serving hotels, restaurants, bars, hotel chains, and catering companies since 1982. The company operates a 6,000 sqm facility with 1,300 sqm exhibition space in Lomazzo, Italy, managing over 150 daily orders for 3,400 active clients with 18,000 articles. The product portfolio is organized into major categories: Porcelain/China (with brands like Sumisura artisanal custom, JL Coquet, Bonna, and Royale Made in Italy), Glassware (Spiegelau, Nachtmann, LAV Horeca, Bormioli, RCR, Pasabahce, Zafferano), Cutlery (Eternum, Belo Inox, Salvinelli), Table Accessories, Bar Equipment, Buffet Display Items, Kitchen Equipment, Professional Clothing, Disposable Products, and Cleaning/Safety Supplies. The company also offers a Cifa Kitchen Lab (inaugurated 2014) for hospitality training and workshops. Products are sold exclusively to VAT-registered business professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Porcelain/China (Porcellana) Professional porcelain tableware for restaurants and hotels, including branded collections such as Sumisura artisanal custom, JL Coquet, Bonna, and Royale (Made in Italy), sold exclusively to VAT-registered hospitality professionals.
• Professional Glassware (Vetro) Professional glass and crystal articles for the Ho.Re.Ca sector from prestigious Italian and international brands, sold to VAT-registered hospitality professionals.
• Professional Cutlery (Posateria) Professional cutlery and tabletop accessories from brands including Eternum, Belo Inox, Salvinelli, Comas, and Gnali Pierfranco, sold to VAT-registered hospitality professionals.
• Table Service Accessories (Tavola) Table service accessories including salt and pepper grinders, oil sets, ice buckets, trays, mini cookware, serving items, lighting, menu boards, table linens, and outdoor products for hospitality venues.
• Bar and Coffee Accessories Professional bar and coffee equipment including shakers, jiggers, strainers, mixing glasses, tongs, siphons, cutting boards, bottle holders, and coffee specialist items for bars, cafes, and hotels.
• Buffet Service Equipment Buffet service equipment and displays including stands, chafing dishes, lamps, carafes, and melamine serving pieces in materials such as Radici, Bamboo, Acacia, Stainless Steel, Glass, Polyrattan, and Plexiglass.
• Professional Kitchen Equipment (Cucina) Professional kitchen equipment including cookware, pastry supplies, pizza equipment, kitchen cutlery, accessories, containers, machinery, and carts for hospitality kitchens.
• Professional Hospitality Clothing (Abbigliamento) Professional kitchen and hospitality clothing including jackets, pants, aprons, hats, footwear, and accessories for Ho.Re.Ca staff.
• Disposable Products (Monouso) Disposable products for hospitality and catering, including eco-friendly bagasse items, take-away containers, finger food serving items, plates, cups and glasses, cutlery, anti-grease paper, napkins, and tablecloths.
• Cleaning and Safety Supplies (Pulizia e Sicurezza) Cleaning and safety products for hospitality venues, including trash bins, signage, cleaning supplies, baskets, courtesy amenities, gloves and aprons, food-grade pallets, and first aid supplies.
• Cifa Kitchen Lab Multifunctional training and demonstration space inaugurated in 2014, equipped with modern cooking and preparation technologies, hosting seminars, workshops, and labs for hospitality sector professionals to learn about the latest trends and technologies.
• Royale Made-in-Italy Custom Porcelain Made-in-Italy professional porcelain supplied under the Royale brand, with exclusive custom product creation available on request through technicians and modelers with extensive sector experience, as part of a strategic partnership.
• Outlet Sales Channel Discounted and discontinued porcelain and other items offered at reduced prices to hospitality professionals, including outlet collections such as Aura, Therapy, Terrain, Grain, Sky, Sand, Sage, Aqua, Patera, Odette, Ore Tierra, and Ore Mar.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,400 active customers served
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• RoyalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Royale, described as the last 'Made in Italy' brand in professional porcelain. The partnership enables creation of exclusive custom products upon request, leveraging technicians and modelers with extensive experience in the sector. This collaboration supports CIFA's Made-in-Italy positioning and exclusive product offerings.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pinti Inox: Italian cutlery and tableware manufacturer supplying Ho.Re.Ca. operators globally. Comparable as an Italian Ho.Re.Ca. brand; competes with the same customers' procurement decisions, though from the manufacturing rather than distribution side.
• Rivoira: Italian Ho.Re.Ca. and foodservice distributor serving hotels, restaurants, and catering with a broad multi-category supply portfolio. Directly comparable as an Italy-based B2B hospitality supply wholesaler with similar customer mix and product breadth.
• Ilsa SpA: Italian manufacturer and distributor of professional cookware, smallwares, and Ho.Re.Ca. kitchen equipment. Comparable in product category and customer base, though Ilsa is more weighted toward manufacturing its own lines versus CIFA's pure distribution model.
• Ho.Re.Ca. Service (HR Service): Italy-based B2B distributor of professional supplies for the hospitality industry. Direct competitor targeting the same hotels, restaurants, and catering operators with comparable product categories (tableware, kitchen equipment, disposables).

Broad incumbents

• Ali Group: Global Italian-headquartered foodservice equipment manufacturer and distributor with a multi-brand portfolio of kitchen, refrigeration, and tableware brands. Overlaps with CIFA's kitchen equipment and Ho.Re.Ca. supply focus but operates at vastly larger scale and through owned manufacturing.
• METRO Italia (Cash & Carry): Italian arm of the METRO wholesale group serving Ho.Re.Ca. professionals with food and non-food supplies including tableware and kitchen equipment. Competes on breadth and scale rather than curated specialty supply, but addresses the same customer base.

Emerging players

• Sambonet: Italian premium cutlery and tableware brand with strong Ho.Re.Ca. presence and made-in-Italy positioning similar to CIFA's Royale partnership. Comparable as a premium Italian tabletop brand that CIFA's hospitality customers may purchase directly or via competing distributors.

Regional players

• BHS Tabletop (BHS Technologies): German B2B distributor of professional Ho.Re.Ca. tableware and buffet equipment. Comparable as a multi-brand European Ho.Re.Ca. supply distributor but primarily serves the German-speaking market.
• Stalgast: Polish professional kitchen equipment and Ho.Re.Ca. supplies distributor with multi-brand catalog and direct B2B sales model. Comparable as a multi-brand European Ho.Re.Ca. distributor but primarily serves Central/Eastern Europe rather than Italy.
• Robert Gervais: French B2B distributor of professional tableware, kitchen, and Ho.Re.Ca. supplies. Comparable multi-brand distributor model and customer base, but focused on the French market rather than Italy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cifasrl
• Facebookfacebook.com/centroitalianoforniturealberghiere
• Instagraminstagram.com/cifa_forniture_alberghiere

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 CIFA