Bernardi

What Bernardi does

Bernardi S.r.l. (trading as Ortofrutta Bernardi) is an Italian B2B wholesale distributor of fresh fruit and vegetables, founded in 1953 in Viserba di Rimini, Romagna, and operating as a family-owned limited liability company. The company sells an 18-category produce catalog (asparagus, chard, artichokes, cauliflower, fennel, melons, tomatoes, etc.) through three branded lines — the premium residue-free La Bella Stagione, the reduced-pesticide B*Green, and Bernardi Bio (organic) — alongside a private-label customization service for retail buyers. Customers are Italian large-scale retail chains (GDO) and international wholesalers, with cold-chain deliveries across Italy and to selected foreign markets including Germany.

The company's operations are vertically partially integrated through Azienda Agricola Bernardi, a wholly-owned subsidiary farming approximately 110 hectares in Romagna (including ~50 ha of melon/watermelon and ~40 ha of cauliflower), supplemented by a network of Global GAP-certified third-party producers. Manufacturing capability rests on IFS Food-certified processing and packaging in Viserba, ISO 22005 traceability enabling product-to-plant origin tracking, ATP-certified refrigerated logistics, and a recent 6-hectare Veronese-style greenhouse investment for summer crops and extended melon windows. DNV-GL third-party certification underpins the La Bella Stagione zero-residue (<0.01 mg/kg pesticide) and zero-nickel (<0.01 mg/kg) product claims.

Revenue mechanics are B2B wholesale at quote-based pricing, paid as transacted, with no disclosed figures; the company does not publish revenue, ARR, or operating metrics. GTM is enterprise field sales targeting GDO and wholesale buyers, supported by participation in Fruit Logistica and MacFrut, Italian and English digital presence, and regular trade-press coverage. The business is led by second-generation family members (Stefano Bernardi, Commercial Director; Cristopher Bernardi, Production Supervisor) supported by a small commercial, administrative, and quality-assurance team (11-50 employees).

Name

Bernardi

Legal name

BERNARDI S.r.l.

Website

https://ortofruttabernardi.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bernardi (Ortofrutta Bernardi) is an Italian B2B wholesale fruit and vegetable distributor founded in 1953, selling fresh produce under the La Bella Stagione, B*Green, and Bernardi Bio lines to Italian GDO retailers and international wholesalers via certified cold-chain logistics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Fresh Produce Distribution

NAICS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (42448)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh Produce Packhouses (Fruits & Vegetables) (AFAOAGAA)

Keywords

• Wholesale fruit vegetables
• Fresh produce distribution
• Zero residue produce
• Private label produce
• Organic fruit vegetables

Headquarters

HQ city

Viserba

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Produce Distribution: Core business model involving wholesale distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to B2B customers including international wholesalers and GDO (large-scale retail). The company processes, packages and delivers seasonal produce, offering both branded product lines and private label options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bernardi S.r.l. is a B2B wholesale fruit and vegetable supplier that sources, produces, processes, packages and distributes fresh produce under its own branded lines (La Bella Stagione, B*Green, Bernardi Bio) and as private-label products. The company supplies international wholesalers and Italian large-scale retail (GDO) from its headquarters in Viserba di Rimini and direct agricultural operations covering 110 hectares in Romagna, with ATP-certified cold-chain logistics enabling nationwide and international delivery.

Product overview

Bernardi operates as a wholesale fruit and vegetable company founded in 1953 in Romagna, Italy. The product portfolio consists of a wholesale produce catalog spanning 18 categories of fresh fruits and vegetables, sold through three branded product lines: the premium La Bella Stagione (zero-residue and zero-nickel certified produce), the environmentally-focused B*Green (minimized pesticide residues), and Bernardi Bio (organic). Additionally, Bernardi offers private-label customization for clients. All products are sourced through a network of selected Italian producers, supplemented by Bernardi's own 110-hectare farm, and processed in IFS Food and Global GAP certified facilities. The company distributes throughout Italy and internationally, with ATP-certified cold-chain logistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Bella Stagione: Premium product line offering zero-residue products (asparagus, cluster tomatoes, white and dark zucchini) and zero-nickel tomatoes (grape, cherry, cocktail mini, oblong, datterino, piccadilly, ox heart). Products certified DNV-GL and 100% Italian.
• B*Green
• Bernardi Bio

Products and services

• La Bella Stagione Premium branded line of fruit and vegetables certified as zero pesticide residue (below 0.01 mg/kg detectable limit) and zero nickel (below 0.01 mg/kg), including zero-residue asparagus, cluster tomatoes, white and dark zucchini, and nickel-free tomato varieties (grappolo, ciliegino, cocktail mini, oblungo, datterino, piccadilly, cuore di bue). 100% Italian with full ISO 22005 supply chain traceability and DNV-GL third-party certification.
• B*Green Branded product line of fruit and vegetables cultivated under integrated pest management principles, with pesticide residues kept at least 70% below the legislative limits, intended for retailers and consumers seeking lower-residue produce.
• Bernardi Bio Organic certified fruit and vegetable product line sold under the Bernardi brand, complementing the La Bella Stagione and B*Green ranges for buyers requiring organic certification.
• Private Label Produce Custom private-label manufacturing and packaging service that produces fruit and vegetables under the customer's brand, processed and packaged according to client-specified criteria, for retailers and resellers needing branded produce offerings.
• Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Catalog Core wholesale offering covering 18 fresh produce categories (asparagus, chard, artichokes, cardoons, chestnuts, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, watermelons, fennel, lettuce, aubergines, melons, bell peppers, tomatoes, leeks, radishes, zucchini), available loose or in multiple pre-packaged formats and distributed under the La Bella Stagione, B*Green, Bernardi Bio, and Bernardi brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• B*Green line products have at least 70% less pesticide residues than legislative limits
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BASF NunhemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2023Bernardi participated in the 1st National Melon Summit organized by BASF Nunhems in Bologna, discussing melon cultivation trends, climate change challenges, and sharing Bernardi's successful approaches to melon production.
• TerremerseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 January 2023Terremerse agricultural cooperative organized a seminar at Bernardi's facilities on nutrition and fertirrigation, discussing techniques to maximize production and address climate change challenges.
• Global GAPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernardi holds Global GAP certification for good agricultural practices, ensuring products are safe, sustainably produced, and traceable. The certification covers production across supplier farms and direct agricultural operations.
• IFS FoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernardi's processing and packaging facilities operate under IFS Food certification, meeting international standards for food safety, hygiene, and quality management recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
• DNV-GLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNV-GL provides third-party certification for Bernardi's Zero Residue and Zero Nickel product lines, verifying pesticide and nickel content below 0.01mg/Kg detectable limits for La Bella Stagione products.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• OrtoRomi: Italian fresh-produce specialist (a subsidiary of Conserve Italia) producing and distributing packaged ready-to-eat salads, vegetables, and soups, primarily to Italian retail. Comparable as an Italian vertically integrated fresh-produce supplier with private-label capability and major retail relationships.
• Peviani: Italian family-owned fresh-produce processor and wholesaler supplying GDO and international customers with fruits, vegetables, and processed produce. Closely comparable in business model, customer base (GDO + wholesalers), and B2B distribution focus.
• La Linea Verde: Italian producer of fresh-cut ready-to-eat salads and fresh vegetables (DimmidiSì, ecc.) with integrated agriculture and supply to Italian and European retail. Comparable in Italian GDO supply model and integrated production.
• Spreafico: Italian fresh-produce company growing, packing, and distributing fruits and vegetables to retail and wholesale channels across Italy and Europe. Comparable vertically integrated model with GDO/private-label exposure and similar product mix.
• Apofruit: Italian fruit and vegetable producer cooperative that grows, processes, and distributes fresh produce to Italian and European wholesale and retail customers. Highly comparable as a B2B fresh-produce wholesaler with own production and certifications, operating in overlapping product categories (melons, tomatoes, brassicas).
• Brio (Gruppo Alegra): Italian fresh-produce platform owned by Alegra/Coop Italy focused on fresh fruits and vegetables for retail and wholesale. Comparable as an Italian GDO-focused fresh-produce distributor with integrated production.
• Naturitalia: Italian fresh-produce consortium serving large-scale retail with fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. Comparable in producer-cooperative model supplying GDO in Italy.

Broad incumbents

• Greenyard: Listed European market leader in fresh, frozen, and prepared fruit and vegetables, serving major European retailers. Comparable end-market and product categories at a much larger, multi-country scale.
• Fratelli Orsero: Italian-listed group with broader tropical-fruit and fresh-produce import/wholesale operations across Europe. Comparable as a larger, more diversified Italian fresh-produce wholesaler; broader scale but overlapping customer and category footprint.

Regional players

• Zerbinati: Italian producer of fresh ready-to-eat salads and fresh vegetables supplying GDO and foodservice. Comparable product mix and retail channel exposure within the Italian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJwNvI02cZ0XcBAOV7gkOFQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/BernardiOrtofrutta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bernardi-srl-ortofrutta-dal-1953
• Instagraminstagram.com/ortofruttabernardi1953

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Bernardi