Who is the owner of Esselunga?

Esselunga is ultimately owned by Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A., which is family-owned by the Caprotti family. The operating ownership chain is Esselunga, Esselunga S.p.A., and Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A., according to Made O'Meter's ownership data verified on 13 September 2026.

Is Esselunga open today or tomorrow?

Esselunga store opening hours vary by location and date. Check the official Esselunga store locator for the specific branch, including holiday and Sunday hours.

Is Esselunga open on Sunday and Easter?

Some Esselunga stores may have Sunday or holiday opening hours, but schedules vary by branch and holiday. Customers should check the official store information for the selected location before visiting.

Is Esselunga cheaper than Conad or Lidl?

Esselunga is not uniformly cheaper or more expensive than Conad or Lidl across every product. A meaningful comparison requires the same products, sizes, brands and promotions.

Is Esselunga olive oil good?

Esselunga sells olive oil under different brands and product ranges, including private-label products. Quality and price depend on the specific bottle, origin, classification and harvest information, so the product label is the appropriate basis for comparison.

What does Esselunga mean in Italian?

Esselunga is the name of the Italian supermarket chain. The name is associated with the company's long store format and distinctive early branding, including the logo designed by Max Huber.

Where can I find Esselunga stores in Italy?

Esselunga stores are located in Lombardy, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Veneto, Liguria and Lazio. The company also operates stores in cities and areas including Milan, Florence and Lucca, with exact locations listed through the official store locator.

Does Esselunga sell groceries online?

Yes. Esselunga sells groceries online through Esselunga a casa, a service that has operated since 2001. Esselunga also offers collection through Clicca e Vai at participating locations.

Who owns Esselunga?

Esselunga

Ultimate ownerItalySupermarkets Italiani S.p.A.

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Brand origin: Italy
Main production: Italy

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Ownership chain

BrandEsselungaItaly
Esselunga S.p.A.
Ultimate ownerSupermarkets Italiani S.p.A.Italy

About Esselunga

What is Esselunga?

Esselunga is an Italian supermarket chain that operates superstores, supermarkets and the laEsse convenience format. Esselunga sells groceries, fresh food, household products and private-label items through stores and online services in Italy. The business is headquartered in Limito di Pioltello, near Milan, Italy. Esselunga is both a retailer and a food producer. The company operates production, processing and distribution centres in Limito di Pioltello, Parma, Biandrate, Sesto Fiorentino and Chiari. Esselunga operates in Lombardy, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Veneto, Liguria and Lazio. A current company profile describes a network of more than 180 stores. Esselunga reported more than 25,000 employees and revenue of €8.8 billion for 2022. The same company profile reported 5.5 million loyalty customers.

Who owns Esselunga?

Esselunga is ultimately owned by Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A., according to Made O'Meter's ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. The ownership chain is Esselunga, Esselunga S.p.A., and Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A. Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A. is headquartered in Italy and is family-owned. Esselunga is ultimately wholly owned by the Caprotti family through Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A. Giuliana Albera Caprotti and Marina Sylvia Caprotti completed the purchase of the remaining 30% of Supermarkets Italiani held by Giuseppe Caprotti and Violetta Caprotti in April 2020. The transaction gave them control of 100% of Esselunga. The 30% minority stake was valued at €1.83 billion in March 2020. The planned financing comprised €535 million of majority-shareholder equity and €1.312 billion of debt financing. Esselunga S.p.A. is the operating company associated with the Esselunga retail business. Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A. was the original company that operated the first stores before the Esselunga name became the retail brand.

Where does Esselunga come from?

Esselunga comes from Milan, Italy, where the first supermarket opened on 27 November 1957 at 43 Viale Regina Giovanna. The premises had previously been occupied by an automobile workshop. The business was founded in 1957 by Nelson Rockefeller, Bernardo Caprotti, Guido Caprotti, Claudio Caprotti, Marco Brunelli, the Crespi family and other Italian associates. The legal company was established as Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A. on 13 April 1957. Its initial share capital was 1 million lire. Nelson Rockefeller's International Basic Economy Corporation subscribed 51%, Bernardo and Guido Caprotti subscribed 18%, Mario and Vittorio Crespi subscribed 16.5%, Marco Brunelli subscribed 10.3%, Princess Laetitia Boncompagni subscribed 3% and Franco Bertolini subscribed 1.2%. The first store had 500 square metres of selling space and offered 1,600 products. The store introduced an American-inspired self-service format while adapting the range to Italian shopping requirements. The first store was operated by Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A. It was not opened by a company initially incorporated under the name Esselunga. Supermarkets Italiani opened five supermarkets in Florence between 1961 and 1962. During the same period, the Caprotti family acquired Nelson Rockefeller's 51% stake and became the majority shareholder. By 1981, Bernardo Caprotti owned all of Esselunga after buying out the other investors, including Nelson Rockefeller. The original investment was slightly more than US$400,000, and the business was later sold to the Italian investor group for more than US$2 million. By 1959, the company had four stores in Milan. Its Viale Zara store was described at the time as the largest supermarket of its kind in Europe. The Esselunga logo was designed by Swiss graphic designer Max Huber during the company's early years. After Bernardo Caprotti died in 2016, his will assigned 66.7% of Esselunga to his second wife Giuliana Albera and daughter Marina Sylvia. His children Giuseppe and Violetta each received 16.7%. Giuliana Albera Caprotti and Marina Sylvia later acquired the 30% stake held by Giuseppe and Violetta, completing the family's consolidation of ownership in 2020. Esselunga entered the Register of Historical Trademarks of Italy in 2024, according to the company's history page.

What products does Esselunga make?

Esselunga sells groceries, fresh food, household products and private-label products through its supermarkets, superstores and online services. Esselunga describes fresh food and products made in its own facilities as important parts of its business. Esselunga began producing pasta, bread and ice cream internally in 1959 at its warehouse on Via Tagliamento. Esselunga introduced private-label products from the late 1970s. Its stated purpose was to broaden the customer offer with products focused on quality, freshness, food safety and competitive prices. The company's private-label lines include Cucina Esselunga, Esselunga BIO, Esselunga Top, Equilibrio, Naturama, Per chi ama la Natura, Smart and Elisenda. Esselunga's food operation includes production, processing and distribution centres serving its stores. The company identifies facilities in Limito di Pioltello, Parma, Biandrate, Sesto Fiorentino and Chiari.

Is Esselunga only in Italy?

Esselunga operates its supermarket business in Italy. Its stores are located in Lombardy, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Veneto, Liguria and Lazio. Esselunga is therefore an Italy-based supermarket chain rather than a supermarket network with stores in multiple countries. Esselunga's headquarters are in Limito di Pioltello near Milan.

Is Esselunga a supermarket and grocery store?

Esselunga is a supermarket and grocery retailer. The business operates supermarkets, superstores and laEsse stores, and sells food, fresh products, household goods and private-label ranges. Esselunga also operates Esselunga a casa, its online grocery service. Esselunga's e-commerce service has operated since 2001. The first Esselunga store used a self-service format, allowing customers to select products from the shelves and pay at the checkout. The format was introduced in Milan in 1957 with an assortment adapted to Italian requirements.

Is Esselunga a good or cheap supermarket?

Esselunga positions some private-label ranges at competitive prices, but the available company information does not establish a single price ranking for all Esselunga products against every supermarket competitor. Whether Esselunga is expensive, cheap or good depends on the product, store, promotion and comparison basket. Esselunga offers private-label lines including Smart, Esselunga BIO, Esselunga Top, Naturama and Equilibrio, so prices and product positioning vary within the range. A comparison with Conad or Lidl requires matching the same products, package sizes, brands and promotional periods. A general statement that Esselunga is always cheaper or always more expensive would not describe every shopping basket.

How does Esselunga online shopping work?

Esselunga offers online grocery shopping through Esselunga a casa. The service has been active since 2001 and uses central warehouses and designated web-store areas within the distribution network. Esselunga also introduced Clicca e Vai, a collection service for online grocery orders, with the first collection point opening in Varedo in 2017. Online availability, delivery times, collection options and opening hours depend on the selected store and location. Customers need to check the official Esselunga service for current availability.

Frequently asked questions about Esselunga

Who is the owner of Esselunga?: Esselunga is ultimately owned by Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A., which is family-owned by the Caprotti family. The operating ownership chain is Esselunga, Esselunga S.p.A., and Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A., according to Made O'Meter's ownership data verified on 13 September 2026.
Is Esselunga open today or tomorrow?: Esselunga store opening hours vary by location and date. Check the official Esselunga store locator for the specific branch, including holiday and Sunday hours.
Is Esselunga open on Sunday and Easter?: Some Esselunga stores may have Sunday or holiday opening hours, but schedules vary by branch and holiday. Customers should check the official store information for the selected location before visiting.
Is Esselunga cheaper than Conad or Lidl?: Esselunga is not uniformly cheaper or more expensive than Conad or Lidl across every product. A meaningful comparison requires the same products, sizes, brands and promotions.
Is Esselunga olive oil good?: Esselunga sells olive oil under different brands and product ranges, including private-label products. Quality and price depend on the specific bottle, origin, classification and harvest information, so the product label is the appropriate basis for comparison.
What does Esselunga mean in Italian?: Esselunga is the name of the Italian supermarket chain. The name is associated with the company's long store format and distinctive early branding, including the logo designed by Max Huber.
Where can I find Esselunga stores in Italy?: Esselunga stores are located in Lombardy, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Veneto, Liguria and Lazio. The company also operates stores in cities and areas including Milan, Florence and Lucca, with exact locations listed through the official store locator.
Does Esselunga sell groceries online?: Yes. Esselunga sells groceries online through Esselunga a casa, a service that has operated since 2001. Esselunga also offers collection through Clicca e Vai at participating locations.

Sources: esselunga.it: la storia.html, esselunga.it: profilo.html, esselunga.it: chi siamo.html, en.wikipedia.org, esselunga.it: BdS 2021 eng.pdf, preqin.com, polimi.it, it.wikipedia.org, giuseppecaprotti.it: esselunga from 1957 to the early 1990s as recalled by a grocers son, italicsmag.com, giuseppecaprotti.it: bloomberg sulla vicenda esselunga con un mio commento finale, milanocittastato.it: i record di esselunga il primo supermercato ditalia il piu grande deuropa il punto piu a sud, milanocittastato.it: i record di esselunga il primo supermercato ditalia il piu grande deuropa il punto piu a sud, corriere.it, esselunga.it: acquisitionby the majority shareholders of 30 of supermarkets italiani and determination of the sale price.pdf, giuseppecaprotti.it: esselunga from 1957 to the early 1990s in the memories of a grocers son, panorama.it, primabergamo.it, tharawat-magazine.com, zh.wikipedia.org: Esselunga, zh.wikipedia.org: Esselunga

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