What Il Gigante does

Il Gigante, legally operated by Rialto S.p.A., is a privately held Italian hypermarket and supermarket chain founded in 1972 and headquartered in Bresso (Milan). The company operates 61 directly owned stores as of June 2024, concentrated in northern Italy across Lombardy, Piedmont, and Emilia Romagna, supported by a produce distribution platform in Bascapè (PV) and a workforce of approximately 5,000 employees. Its core retail proposition combines national-brand grocery with a proprietary private-label line of over 1,000 SKUs (90%+ manufactured in Italian facilities), fresh in-store departments (bakery since 1972, pastry, butcher, deli), and specialty verticals including gluten-free products listed in the AIC Prontuario 2026.

The revenue model is omnichannel and transactional: physical retail dominates, complemented by online grocery (click-and-collect and home delivery at EUR 5.20 per order via the 'Saliscendi in Leggerezza' service), a digital Blucard loyalty program, gift cards in three denominations, 24-hour self-service fuel stations at eight locations, in-store pet retail ('Animali che Passione' with 7,000+ SKUs), a Parafarmacia pharmacy section, catering, photo printing (CEWE), and meal voucher acceptance. Technology is standard retail: an e-commerce storefront, the AGILE & VAI self-scanning mobile app, and the Blucard loyalty system — with no disclosed AI/ML or proprietary platform differentiators.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via owned retail real estate, supplemented by the 'Il Mio Gigante' franchising program. Customers are general northern Italian families and consumers, plus targeted sub-segments (celiac patients, pet owners, event organizers). Distribution relies on owned physical retail rather than third-party channels; partnerships are largely upstream (Consorzio Sigillo Italiano for certified meat) or talent-focused (ITS Academy Agroalimentare Piemonte). There is no public ownership, no disclosed venture or private equity backing, and no published revenue figures.

Name

Il Gigante

Legal name

Rialto S.p.A.

Website

https://ilgigante.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Il Gigante is a privately held Italian supermarket and hypermarket chain operating 61 directly owned stores across Lombardy, Piedmont, and Emilia Romagna. It serves northern Italian consumers with groceries, a 1,000+ SKU private-label line, and ancillary retail services including fuel, pet stores, and pharmacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Grocery Retail

NAICS

Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (44511)

SIC

Retail-Grocery Stores (5411)

akta.pro primary industry

Grocery & Specialty Food Marketplaces (CRAFABAE)

Keywords

• Supermarket retail chain
• Private label groceries
• Fresh food retail
• Loyalty program
• Hypermarket operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Bresso

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales: Revenue from physical supermarket and hypermarket sales including both national brands and own-brand products (over 1000 private label items)
2. Online Grocery: Online ordering platform with click-and-collect and home delivery services
3. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold in three denominations (EUR 25, EUR 50, EUR 100) with 24-month validity
4. Fuel Stations: Self-service fuel stations (Il Gigante Self 24) operating 24 hours at selected locations
5. Services: Additional services including catering, photo printing, postal bill payment, meal vouchers, and pharmacy (Parafarmacia)
6. Book Reservations: School textbook reservation service with 13% discount on cover price

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Il Gigante operates a chain of supermarkets and hypermarkets in Northern Italy selling groceries, fresh produce, meat, bakery and pastry items, alongside its own private-label range of over 1,000 products. The stores are complemented by online grocery ordering with click-and-collect and home delivery, a digital loyalty program (Blucard), and ancillary in-store services including catering, pharmacy, photo printing, fuel stations, and specialty pet stores. Revenue is generated primarily through direct retail sales of food, beverage, and household goods to individual consumers.

Product overview

Il Gigante operates a network of supermarkets and hypermarkets primarily in Northern Italy, offering a comprehensive retail ecosystem. The core offering centers on physical grocery retail with fresh departments (bakery since 1972, pastry, butcher, deli), complemented by a private label brand of over 1,000 products (over 90% made in Italy). The company provides online shopping with pickup or delivery, a loyalty program (Blucard), specialty services including a pet store chain (Animali che Passione), pharmacy sections (Parafarmacia), and fuel stations (Il Gigante Self 24). Additional services include catering, gift cards, textbook reservations, photo printing, and self-scanning technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Blucard: Loyalty card program that rewards customers with exclusive benefits.
• A modo mio
• Pollo Alegre
• Animali che Passione
• Il Gigante Self 24
• Prodotti a Marchio Il Gigante

Products and services

• Spesa Online (Online Grocery) Online grocery shopping service allowing customers to order products via ilgigante.net and either pick them up at the store or have them delivered to their home, for general consumers and families in Northern Italy.
• Blucard Loyalty Program Company loyalty card program that rewards customers with exclusive benefits, accumulating points on purchases and granting access to personalized offers and a catalog prize program.
• Prodotti a Marchio Il Gigante (Private Label) Over 1,000 private-label daily-use products under the Il Gigante brand and sub-brands (e.g., Assaggi e Paesaggi, Premiati, Gigante Prodotto a Marchio), with more than 90% produced in Italian facilities and positioned at always-low prices for general consumers.
• Prodotti Senza Glutine (Gluten-Free Product Line) Gluten-free product line including fresh products such as bread, pizza, focaccia, cakes and desserts, with selected items listed in the AIC (Italian Celiac Association) 2026 Directory and reimbursable through the Italian National Health Service for celiac consumers.
• La Pasticceria Gigante (In-Store Pastry) Fresh in-store pastry production operating since 1972, producing daily fresh pastries, cakes, and desserts using Italian butter and type 1 Italian flour, sold to in-store shoppers.
• Bontà Gigante (In-Store Bakery) In-store bakery service preparing bread using Italian mother yeast refreshed daily since 1923, sold to in-store shoppers as part of the fresh food offering.
• Carni di Filiera (Certified Meat) Meat department offering Consorzio Sigillo Italiano certified meat products, with livestock raised according to strict quality production guidelines, sold to in-store shoppers.
• Il Gigante Self 24 (Fuel Stations) 24-hour self-service fuel stations operating at select store locations, offering competitive pricing on diesel and gasoline for vehicle owners.
• Animali che Passione (Pet Stores) Specialized pet store sections offering over 7,000 product references for dogs, cats, birds, rodents and fish, supported by specialized staff and veterinary partnerships, for pet-owning households.
• Parafarmacia (In-Store Pharmacy) Parapharmacy section within hypermarkets selling over-the-counter medications, dietetic products, and health and beauty items, staffed by professional pharmacists, for in-store shoppers.
• Servizio Catering Catering service for events, parties, and corporate functions with customizable menu options, leveraging in-house fresh-food production (bakery, pastry, butcher) for event organizers.
• Carte Regalo a Scalare (Gift Cards) Non-reloadable gift cards available in EUR 25, EUR 50, and EUR 100 denominations, valid for 24 months from activation, usable for in-store purchases by consumers and gift recipients.
• Saliscendi in Leggerezza (Delivery Service) Home delivery service that brings groceries to customers' homes for EUR 5.20 per delivery, available at select Il Gigante store locations.
• Prenotazione Libri di Testo (Textbook Reservation Service) Online school textbook reservation service offering a 13% discount on cover price, available to families and students for back-to-school purchases.
• Stampa Foto Istantanee (Photo Printing) In-store CEWE photo printing service allowing customers to print photos directly from their smartphones via Bluetooth or cable at selected Il Gigante locations.
• Il Mio Gigante (Franchising Program) Franchising program allowing independent operators to open stores under the Il Gigante brand, expanding the company's retail footprint in Northern Italy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gluten-free products listed in AIC Prontuario 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Consorzio Sigillo ItalianocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2019Partnership with Consorzio Sigillo Italiano for certified quality meat products. The consortium certifies superior quality livestock production, and Il Gigante is the first large-scale retailer in northern Italy to feature these certified products. Animals are raised following strict quality production guidelines.
• AIC (Associazione Italiana Celiachia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeveral of Il Gigante's own-brand gluten-free products are listed in the AIC Prontuario 2026, a publication that identifies products safe for celiac consumers. This partnership validates the quality of Il Gigante's gluten-free offerings.
• ITS Academy Agroalimentare PiemonteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIl Gigante Academy partnership with ITS Academy Agroalimentare Piemonte for training future department managers through apprenticeship programs combining classroom education and on-the-job training at Il Gigante stores.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Esselunga: Italy's leading northern-Italy-focused supermarket chain with strong private label, premium positioning, and integrated online grocery. Direct competitor to Il Gigante in Lombardy and surrounding regions across grocery, private label, and digital channels.
• Lidl Italia: Discount grocery chain with dense northern Italian footprint. Competes with Il Gigante on basic grocery pricing and increasingly on fresh, pressuring margins across the chain.
• Bennet: Italian hypermarket chain concentrated in Lombardy, Piedmont, and Emilia Romagna with multi-format retail including fuel and online grocery. Closest format-overlap peer to Il Gigante given shared regional footprint and hypermarket positioning.
• Eurospin Italia: Leading Italian discount grocery chain expanding aggressively across northern Italy. Competes with Il Gigante on price-sensitive segments and forces overall price discipline across the chain.
• Carrefour Italia: International hypermarket and supermarket operator with established Italian presence across multiple regions. Direct competitor on hypermarket format, private label, and digital grocery offerings.
• Conad - Consorzio Nazionale Dettaglianti: Italy's largest grocery retailer by store count, operating through a consortium model with multiple banners. Competes with Il Gigante across all of northern Italy on assortment, price, and private label.
• Coop Italia: Major Italian cooperative grocery retailer with extensive hypermarket and supermarket presence. Overlaps with Il Gigante in Lombardy, Piedmont, and Emilia Romagna on grocery, fresh, and private label offerings.
• Finiper / Iper La Grande i: Italian hypermarket group operating the Iper banner across northern and central Italy. Competes directly with Il Gigante's hypermarket format on assortment, fresh, and non-food categories.
• Unes / U2 Supermercati: Mid-size Italian supermarket operator with strong northern Italy presence (Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto). Closest regional competitor by scale, banner strategy, and customer demographic.

Others

• Selex Gruppo Commerciale: Italian voluntary purchasing consortium of which Il Gigante is a member. Not a direct competitor but a peer in scale, structure, and procurement power — comparable as a horizontal alliance of regional grocery operators pooling buying and private label scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IlGiganteSupermercati
• Instagraminstagram.com/ilgigantesupermercati

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Il Gigante