Who owns CONAD?
CONAD
Made O'Meter is free and ad-free, built to keep ownership like this transparent.
- Brand origin
- Italy
- Main production
- Italy
Conad is an Italian supermarket and grocery retail brand operated through a network of independent retailers and cooperatives. The brand is ultimately owned by Consorzio Nazionale Dettaglianti Soc. Coop., a cooperative headquartered in Bologna, Italy.
conad.itAbout CONAD
What is Conad?
Conad is an Italian large-scale retail brand whose name is an acronym for Consorzio Nazionale Dettaglianti. Conad operates supermarkets, neighborhood grocery stores, hypermarkets, and other retail formats through independent retailers associated with cooperatives. Conad describes itself as Italy’s largest organization of independent retail entrepreneurs and has been Italy’s leading large-scale retail brand since 2019. Conad’s official website is conad.it. Conad is a supermarket and grocery store network rather than a single store operated from one central location. Individual shops are managed by independent retailers within the Conad cooperative system. The network includes formats such as Supermercati Conad, Negozi Margherita, and Ipermercati Pianeta. Conad City is a neighborhood retail format associated with smaller local stores. Conad operates in Italy and also reports activities in Albania, Kosovo, and San Marino. Conad reported more than 4,500 stores across these markets. Conad reported 2023 system turnover of more than €20.2 billion and a market share of about 15% in Italy’s large-scale retail sector. Conad’s 2023 annual report also stated that one third of branded products sold in Italy carried the Conad brand. Conad’s commercial model combines collective purchasing with local retail ownership. The cooperative structure allows associated retailers to organize procurement and use common formats, services, and private-label products while remaining independent business operators.
Who owns Conad?
Conad is ultimately owned by Consorzio Nazionale Dettaglianti Soc. Coop., according to Made O’Meter’s ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. The ultimate owner is headquartered in Bologna, Italy, and is organized as a cooperative. Consorzio Nazionale Dettaglianti is the legal name behind the Conad acronym. Conad’s cooperative system brings together independent retailers through associated cooperatives. The retailers and cooperatives participate in a shared purchasing and distribution structure rather than a conventional corporate chain controlled by a single private shareholder. Conad’s own company materials describe the organization as a cooperative and state that cooperatives do not have one individual owner in the usual corporate sense. The cooperative structure is based on associated members and mutual organization. The registered Conad entity is Consorzio Nazionale Dettaglianti, Società cooperativa, with its headquarters in Bologna. Conad’s current ownership is therefore cooperative rather than family-owned, privately held by an investment group, or controlled by a foreign multinational. The brand originated in Italy and remains associated with an Italian cooperative organization.
Where does Conad come from?
Conad originated in Bologna, Italy, where independent retailers founded Consorzio Nazionale Dettaglianti on 13 May 1962. The founders wanted to organize the collective purchasing of food, beverages, and consumer goods while strengthening the position of small retailers in relation to wholesalers and branded manufacturers. At its formation, Conad comprised 420 members organized into 14 purchasing groups. The organization’s first headquarters was in Milan, and the headquarters was later moved to Bologna. Mario Gombi was one of Conad’s founding figures and proposed some of the first Conad-branded products. The first Conad-branded products initially used invented names, including Sabrina, Dorita, Dana, Union, and Marinel. Conad opened its first supermarket shortly after its creation in Bologna. The company describes that store as Italy’s first neighborhood shopping centre managed by an organization of seven retailers. The Margherita symbol first appeared alongside the Conad name in 1971. In 1978, Conad stopped using invented names for its private-label products. The products began displaying the store name on their labels and were classified by category. Conad introduced its first rules governing use of the Conad trademark in 1980. In 1989, Conad structured its distribution channels as Supermercati Conad, Negozi Margherita, and Ipermercati Pianeta. Conad launched its first hypermarket in 1990 under the Pianeta Conad name in Modena. Conad, Sigma, and Conitcoop established the Sicon alliance in 1993. The cited account described the alliance as representing a 7.5% market share. In 2001, Conad launched Sapori & Dintorni Conad, a private retail brand focused on typical Italian products. Conad acquired 33 Sicilian stores operated by Auchan and 50 pharmacies operated by Lillapois in 2019. Conad reported that the expansion helped it become Italy’s leading large-scale retail brand in 2019, with a 15.01% market share and 3,300 stores.
What products does Conad make?
Conad sells food, beverages, household products, personal-care goods, and other consumer products through its stores and private-label ranges. Conad’s own-label products cover everyday grocery categories as well as fresh food and specialty Italian products. Conad’s private-label range includes products carrying the Conad name and products sold under associated names such as Sapori & Dintorni Conad. Sapori & Dintorni Conad was introduced in 2001 as a private retail brand dedicated to typical Italian products. Conad states that 95% of its private-label products are made by small and medium-sized Italian producers. The statement describes the origin of the products in the private-label supply chain, not necessarily the location of every production facility or every ingredient. Conad’s first private-label products used invented names such as Sabrina, Dorita, Dana, Union, and Marinel. From 1978 onward, Conad changed the labeling system so products displayed the store name and were classified by category. Conad does not manufacture every product sold in its stores. The retail network stocks products from national and international manufacturers alongside Conad private-label goods. For a specific product such as Conad olive oil, quality and composition depend on the product line, the label, the producer, and the applicable product specifications.
Is Conad a supermarket and what is Conad City in Italy?
Conad is an Italian supermarket and grocery retail network, while Conad City is a neighborhood-oriented Conad store format. Conad operates several formats designed for different shopping missions and store locations. The company’s historical formats included Supermercati Conad, Negozi Margherita, and Ipermercati Pianeta. Conad City belongs to the smaller local-store side of the network and is intended for neighborhood shopping. A Conad City store can therefore differ from a larger Conad supermarket in floor space, assortment, opening hours, and local management. Conad City stores are not all identical because the stores are operated within a network of independent retailers. Product availability and services can vary by location. The same applies to stores in cities such as Florence. A Conad City Florence search can identify local stores, but the specific address determines the available products, opening hours, and services. Conad’s store formats reflect the organization’s origins among independent retailers. The network combines common branding and purchasing arrangements with local business management.
Is Conad Italian and is Conad only in Italy?
Conad is an Italian brand founded in Bologna in 1962 and ultimately owned by an Italian cooperative headquartered in Bologna. Conad is not only present in Italy, although Italy is its home market and principal operating market. Conad reports operations in Italy, Albania, Kosovo, and San Marino. The brand’s Italian origin is reflected in its name, its cooperative history, and its emphasis on Italian products. Conad states that 95% of its private-label products are made by small and medium-sized Italian producers. The presence of Conad outside Italy does not change the brand’s origin or ultimate ownership. Consorzio Nazionale Dettaglianti Soc. Coop. remains the Italian cooperative identified as Conad’s ultimate owner in Made O’Meter’s verified ownership data.
How large is Conad in Italy?
Conad was Italy’s leading large-scale retail brand in 2019, when it reported a 15.01% market share and 3,300 stores. Conad reported 2022 turnover of €18.49 billion and an almost 15% share of Italy’s large-scale retail market. Conad reported more than 4,500 stores and operations in Italy, Albania, Kosovo, and San Marino. In 2023, Conad reported system turnover of more than €20.2 billion and a market share of about 15% in Italy’s large-scale retail sector. Conad reported that its brand value exceeded €4 billion in 2022, representing a 29% increase over the previous year according to Brand Finance Italy 50. In 2023, Conad reported a brand value exceeding €5.4 billion, up 31% from 2022, placing Conad eighth among Italian brands in Brand Finance Italy 100. Conad’s 2023 annual report also stated that private-label sales increased by 12.9% to €6 billion and that Conad private-label products accounted for 33.2% of packaged consumer goods sold through the supermarket channel in Italy. These figures describe the Conad system and its reported market position for the relevant years.
How does Conad compare with Coop and Lidl?
Conad, Coop, and Lidl are competing grocery retail brands, but a general price ranking cannot be established from the available verified facts. Prices vary by product, store format, region, promotion, and date. Conad and Coop are both associated with cooperative retail traditions in Italy, but they are separate organizations. Conad’s ultimate owner is Consorzio Nazionale Dettaglianti Soc. Coop. Conad’s network is built around independent retailers and associated cooperatives. Lidl is a discount supermarket operator, while Conad uses several formats ranging from neighborhood stores to supermarkets and hypermarkets. This difference in format can affect assortment, store costs, promotions, and prices. A comparison between Conad and Coop, or between Conad and Lidl, is most reliable when it uses the same products, package sizes, store locations, and purchase dates. The available ownership and company information does not establish that Conad is always cheaper, more expensive, or better than either competitor.
When is Conad open?
Conad opening hours are set by individual stores, so whether Conad is open today, on Sunday, or on Ferragosto depends on the specific location. Conad’s network is operated by independent retailers, and opening schedules can therefore differ between stores and formats. A Conad City store may have different hours from a larger Conad supermarket or hypermarket. Holiday schedules can also differ from regular Sunday schedules. The most reliable answer to a question such as “Is Conad open today near me?” requires checking the individual store listing or contacting the local store. The same applies to Ferragosto, the Italian public holiday on 15 August. Some Conad stores may open with reduced hours, while others may close. A general network-wide opening rule should not be assumed.
Frequently asked questions about CONAD
Who owns Conad supermarkets in Italy?
- Conad supermarkets are ultimately owned by Consorzio Nazionale Dettaglianti Soc. Coop., an Italian cooperative headquartered in Bologna. Individual stores are operated through independent retailers and associated cooperatives within the Conad system.
Is Conad expensive or cheap?
- Conad cannot be classified as uniformly expensive or cheap across all stores and products. Prices depend on the local store, product, package size, promotions, and the Conad format.
Is Conad cheaper than Lidl?
- There is no single price answer for every product. Lidl uses a discount supermarket model, while Conad operates several store formats, so a fair comparison requires checking identical products and sizes at specific stores and dates.
Is Conad or Coop cheaper?
- Neither chain is always cheaper across every category. Conad and Coop prices vary by location, format, promotion, and product, so the comparison should use the same items and package sizes.
Is Conad open on Sunday?
- Some Conad stores open on Sunday, but opening hours are decided locally. The answer depends on the individual store and its format.
Is Conad open on Ferragosto?
- Some Conad stores may open on Ferragosto with reduced hours, while others may close. The specific store’s holiday schedule must be checked because Conad does not have one opening timetable for every location.
Is Conad olive oil good?
- Conad sells olive oil under its private-label range, but the quality and characteristics depend on the specific product and label. Buyers should compare the oil category, origin information, producer, ingredients, and product specifications rather than treating every Conad olive oil as identical.
What is Conad City in Italy?
- Conad City is a neighborhood-oriented Conad store format. It generally serves local grocery shopping, while its exact assortment, services, and opening hours depend on the individual independently managed store.
Sources: chisiamo.conad.it: la nostra storia, chisiamo.conad.it: Conad 60 anni, chisiamo.conad.it: chi siamo, chisiamo.conad.it: Conad company profile.pdf, chisiamo.conad.it: BS17 INTERO bassa.pdf, chisiamo.conad.it: About Us, chisiamo.conad.it: dettaglianti alimentari organizzati, chisiamo.conad.it: Conad Annual Report 2020.pdf, chisiamo.conad.it: about us, chisiamo.conad.it: 2023, chisiamo.conad.it: 2022, en.wikipedia.org, conad.it, chisiamo.conad.it: 2022 en, chisiamo.conad.it: brand mdd, chisiamo.conad.it: The performance of Conad s brands, chisiamo.conad.it: e scomparso mario gombi uno dei padri fondatori di conad, danielesciarotta.it, chisiamo.conad.it: negozi e prodotti
Get news about brands and owners
We only write when there is something worth telling about who owns what, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, chisiamo.conad.it
Ownership data is compiled from public sources and verified where possible. Spotted an error? Suggest a correction below.
Products from CONAD
94- Conad Farina di CeciFood – Chickpea Flour
- Conad Whole MilkFood – Dairy (Whole Milk)
- Conad Soja Naturale soy yogurt alternativeFood – Plant-based dairy alternative
- Conad shelled almondsFood – snack (nuts)
- Conad Cling FilmKitchenware – Food wrap
- Conad Apricot PreserveFood – Jam and Preserves
- Conad Arachidi Ricoperte Gusto PaprikaFood – Snack (Coated Peanuts)
- Conad MirtilliFood - Fresh Fruit
- Conad Vino RossoBeverage – Wine
- Conad Spalmabile Fresh Spreadable CheeseFood – Dairy (Cheese)
- Conad Paprika DolceFood – Spice
- Conad Maple Syrup SauceFood – Condiment
- Conad PinoliFood – Nuts (Pine Nuts)
- Conad Patatine Rustiche potato chipsFood – snack
- Conad Pera 100% FruttaFood – Fruit Puree Snack
- Conad burger (likely plant-based)Food – meat alternatives or prepared frozen meals
- Conad Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOPFood – Cheese
- Conad Ravioli Ricotta & SpinaciFood – Fresh Pasta
- Conad Sapori & Dintorni Taralli PugliesiFood – Snack (Savory)
- Conad Cozze CileneFood – Frozen Seafood
- Conad Percorso Qualità AsparagusFood – Fresh Produce
- Conad Tonno all’Olio di OlivaFood – Canned Fish
- Conad Filetti di Tonno all'Olio di OlivaFood – Fish and Seafood
- Conad Farro alla MediterraneaFood – Ready-to-eat grain salad
and 70 more products

