Imola Retail Solutions

What Imola Retail Solutions does

Imola Retail Solutions S.r.l. is an Italian shopfitting and retail design company headquartered in Imola (Bologna), operating since the 1950s and structured as a subsidiary under ITAB Shop Concept AB. The company manufactures and supplies modular shelving systems (Wireplus, System10, System25, System50, 3x3), checkout counters and self-checkout stations, LED-integrated lighting, point-of-purchase displays, guidance systems, and a retail technology portfolio that includes the Smart Shelving System, Digital/LED Shelf System, Click & Collect lockers, a Facial Recognition Terminal, occupancy control, and digital queue management. It also offers professional Retail Design services covering architectural design, layout, equipment selection, and branding for specialized retail formats.

The company operates a dual go-to-market: direct project sales for large retail chains on custom Retail Design engagements, and an authorized dealer and service-center network for standardized products across Italy and international markets (Spain, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Malta). It serves enterprise clients across food retail (Carrefour, Conad, Unicoop Firenze, Ipercoop, Coop, Al Meera, Sultan Center), non-food retail (Bricocenter, Cadena 88, La Grande Récré, Selex), pharmacy (Sfera, Farmacia Dottor Peroni), and HORECA (Nelson Bar Ovest). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Revenue is generated through hardware sales (modular shelving, checkouts, lighting, POP displays), professional services (Retail Design, branding and concept), and retail technology hardware. The company is part of the broader Cefla Group ecosystem, with sister companies Cefla Lighting, C-LED, Zenith Shop Design, and Lucifero's providing complementary capabilities. Distribution leverages approximately 69 employees plus an extensive dealer and service-center network, with strategic technology partnerships (Jointag for proximity marketing, Datalogic for handheld terminals, MIT Senseable City Lab for Expo 2015 Future Food District).

Name

Imola Retail Solutions

Legal name

Imola Retail Solutions S.r.l.

Website

https://imolaretail.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Imola Retail Solutions is an Italian shopfitting company, in operation since the 1950s and part of ITAB Shop Concept AB, that manufactures modular shelving, checkouts, lighting, and retail technology for large retail chains across Europe and the Middle East.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Shopfitting & Store Fixtures

SIC

Partitions, Shelvg, Lockers, & Office & Store Fixtures (2540)

akta.pro primary industry

Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) & Shelf-Edge Hardware (HDACAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Customer-Facing Displays & Digital Signage for Checkout (HDACAKAF)

Keywords

• Retail shopfitting solutions
• Modular shelving systems
• Checkout counter systems
• Retail design services
• Store display fixtures

Headquarters

HQ city

Imola (BO)

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Shopfitting Products Manufacturing & Supply: Mass production and supply of modular shelving systems, checkout counters, self-checkout stations, integrated racks, lighting systems, and POP displays. Revenue is generated through the sale of physical retail furniture and fixtures, both standardized product lines and custom-configured units.
2. Retail Design Services: Comprehensive Retail Design service providing constant customer support from architectural design to layout and equipment selection. Includes turnkey project delivery covering display concepts, industrialised shopfitting, and full store fit-out.
3. Retail Technology Solutions: Supply and integration of retail technology products including Smart Shelving, LED Shelf Systems, Click&Collect lockers, occupancy monitoring, queue management, facial recognition terminals, and ShopApp proximity marketing platform.
4. Branding and Concept Services: Brand concept development and store branding services including brand strategy, temporary store concepts, and in-store communication design.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Imola Retail Solutions manufactures and supplies industrialized shopfitting products including modular shelving systems (Wireplus, System10/25/50, 3x3), checkout counters and self-checkout stations, LED-integrated lighting, and retail technology solutions (Smart Shelving, Click & Collect lockers, facial recognition terminals, occupancy control, digital queue management). The company also delivers turnkey Retail Design projects spanning architectural design, layout, equipment selection, and store fit-out for major retail chains across Europe and the Middle East.

Product overview

Imola Retail Solutions provides a comprehensive retail shopfitting portfolio consisting of core physical products (shelving systems including System25, System10, System50, and Wireplus; checkout counters and self-checkout stations; lighting solutions; PoP displays; and guidance systems) complemented by technology products (LED/Digital Shelf System for shelf illumination and digital integration, Smart Shelving System with proximity marketing, ShopApp proximity marketing application, Click & Collect automated locker systems, facial recognition terminals, occupancy control systems, and queue management solutions). The company also offers design services including Retail Design, Branding and Concept, and Food Court solutions. The portfolio spans both Food and Non-Food retail sectors, with the core shelving and checkout products forming the foundation while technology solutions add digital capabilities and customer engagement features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Display / Shelving Systems Comprehensive shelving and display solutions for retail environments, including modular shelving systems (System25, System10, System50), wire shelving (Wireplus), and the 3x3 versatile display system. Designed for supermarkets, hypermarkets, and specialized retail formats requiring customizable, mass-produced fixtures.
• Checkouts & Self-Checkout Checkout counters and self-checkout stations including Futura Plus and Futura Proxi Compact models, featuring integrated cash management systems for efficient payment operations in retail environments.
• LED Shelf System / Digital Shelf System LED lighting and digitalization system for shelving that distributes power at very low voltage throughout the shelving unit, enabling LED lighting and digital applications without battery constraints. Features plug-and-play installation and modular design.
• Click & Collect Locker System Automated 24/7 online order pickup and delivery system with smart lockers, including refrigerated configurations for grocery applications. Supports both purchased goods distribution and deposit reception with 2-way operation.
• Facial Recognition Terminal Body temperature detection and face mask recognition terminal for retail store entrances, capable of detecting temperature above 37.5°C or absence of mask and controlling automatic door access.
• Occupancy Control System Real-time store capacity monitoring system that controls customer entry based on safety distancing regulations, featuring digital traffic light authorization and configurable capacity limits.
• Digital Queue Management Digital platform for virtual queues that manages customer flow in service areas, with kiosk, counter devices, cashier software, central screens, and control panel for retail environments.
• Smart Shelving System Electrified modular shelving system with proximity marketing capabilities, using low-voltage signal bus to provide LED lighting and digital communication with customer smartphones without batteries. Integrates iBeacon, NFC, and QR code technologies for personalized messaging.
• ShopApp Proximity marketing and augmented reality application developed with Jointag that enables interactive dialogue with consumers through real-time product information, personalized offers, and gamification experiences installed on consumer mobile devices.
• Grow Unit High-tech display cabinet for cultivating microgreens in indoor environments through automated irrigation and LED lighting systems. Developed from Cefla group know-how in collaboration with university research centers.
• Lighting Solutions Lighting solutions including LED shelf lighting, ambient lighting, and specialized retail lighting systems integrated by Cefla Lighting business unit, including Luminette LED-integrated shelving and architectural lighting from Lucifero's.
• Retail Design Complete retail design service from architectural design to layout planning, equipment selection, ambientation, and custom fixture design for specialized retail formats. Provides constant customer support from concept to installation for large retail chains.
• Point of Purchase (PoP) Displays Durable, industrialized PoP promotional displays with solid metal structures, modular columns (135-300cm), and customizable graphics for permanent retail displays.
• Guidance / Customer Orientation Customer guidance and orientation solutions including entrance gates, signage, display systems, and wayfinding elements for retail environments such as supermarkets and hypermarkets.
• Branding and Concept Brand concept design and store identity development including brand strategy, temporary stores, and visual merchandising concepts for retail clients.
• Food Court Solutions Innovative solutions for food courts, restaurants, coffee bars, gastronomy counters, and relaxation areas with modular, industrialized designs for the HORECA sector.
• Wireplus Wire Shelving Modular wire display system with steps 66.5-133cm, base depths 25-55cm, and various mesh options. Features modular structure, aesthetic floating effect, improved lighting, and easy integration.
• 3x3 Modular Display System Modular display system that can be disassembled and configured in a few steps, offering versatile shelving adaptable to different types of merchandise for retail environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Facial Recognition Terminal detects 5 people simultaneously in 11.5 seconds (vs. ~40 seconds for competing products)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

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

• ITAB Shop Concept ABflagshipOthersImola Retail Solutions S.r.l. is subject to direction and coordination of ITAB Shop Concept AB. ITAB is the parent company that owns and controls Imola Retail Solutions. The company footer states 'Part of itab.com'.
• JointagcoreTechnology or IntegrationJointag is a Verona-based company specializing in proximity marketing through iBeacon, NFC, and QR code technologies. Cefla developed ShopApp in partnership with Jointag to enable interactive proximity marketing between retailers and consumers.
• Cefla Group (Cefla Retail Solutions, Cefla Lighting, C-LED, Zenith Shop Design)coreTechnology or IntegrationCefla Group companies including Cefla Retail Solutions (sister division), Cefla Lighting (lighting business unit, evolved from C-LED), C-LED (LED lighting for visual merchandising and greenhouse cultivation), and Zenith Shop Design (custom furniture and shopfitting) operate in close synergy with Imola Retail Solutions, sharing technology, expertise, and distribution channels within the Cefla Group ecosystem.
• Lucifero'scoreTechnology or IntegrationLucifero's is an architectural lighting company (majority acquired by Cefla) specializing in architectural lighting design and production. They partnered with Cefla Shopfitting to develop lighting for Euroshop 2020 stand and provide custom lighting solutions for retail environments.
• MIT Senseable City LabflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIT Senseable City Lab from Boston collaborated with Cefla Shopfitting and Coop on the Future Food District at Expo 2015 Milano, developing the futuristic supermarket concept with interactive touch-enabled shelving and product information systems.
• Carlo Ratti (MIT Senseable City Lab)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitect Carlo Ratti, director of MIT Senseable City Lab, designed the futuristic supermarket concept for Expo 2015's Future Food District. Cefla Shopfitting provided the display systems and Zenith Shop Design handled custom furniture production.
• AgroterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgroter collaborated with Cefla Shopfitting on Macfrut fair presentations and the 'fruit and vegetable section of the future' forum, contributing expertise in fresh produce retail and marketing strategies.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Madix Inc. US-based manufacturer of retail shelving, gondolas, and display systems serving grocery, big-box, and convenience retailers. Comparable product lines (modular gondola shelving, checkout fixtures) and similar B2B project sales motion.
• SES-imagotag: Global leader in Electronic Shelf Labels and IoT for retail, headquartered in France. Directly comparable to Imola's Digital/LED Shelf System and Smart Shelving System lines that electrify shelf edges and deliver pricing/promotion at point of display.
• Gondella: European (Italian/Spanish) shelving and retail display manufacturer with overlapping customers and similar modular shelving product range used in supermarket and hypermarket fixtures.
• ITAB Shop Concept AB: Swedish parent that directs and coordinates Imola Retail Solutions and operates a directly overlapping shopfitting, checkout, and lighting portfolio across Europe. Functions both as corporate parent and as a direct competitor/sister brand selling very similar modular shelving and checkout solutions to overlapping retail customers.
• Strong International: Manufacturer of shelving, gondolas, and retail display fixtures with comparable turnkey shopfitting services for grocery, DIY, and general merchandise retailers across multiple geographies.
• Cefla Shopfitting (Cefla Retail Solutions): Sister company within the Cefla/ITAB ecosystem, offering essentially the same modular shelving, checkout, lighting, and retail technology lines in overlapping European markets. Imola's own navigation references Cefla Shopfitting product pages, indicating portfolio and go-to-market symmetry.
• Lozier Corporation: US-based manufacturer of store fixtures, shelving, and gondolas widely used by grocery, mass, and specialty retailers. Comparable product portfolio (modular shelving, checkout counters) and project-based delivery for large retail chains.

Broad incumbents

• Hussmann (Panasonic): Large global vendor of refrigerated and non-refrigerated retail display cases, shelving, and store fittings, now part of Panasonic. Competes with Imola in food retail fixture projects across hypermarkets and supermarkets, with broader portfolio and global delivery capability.
• Diebold Nixdorf: Global retail technology vendor for POS, self-checkout, electronic shelf labels, and checkout queue/in-store digital solutions. Overlaps with Imola's retail technology stack (checkout, queue management, smart shelving) at larger enterprise retailers.

Emerging players

• Torex Retail (Aptos): Specialist retail technology provider for POS, self-checkout, queue management, and unified commerce. Comparable to Imola's queue management and digital ticketing platform and to the Smart Shelving/LED Shelf digital engagement layer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imola-retail-solutions

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 Imola Retail Solutions