Milan, July 8th 2010 – TheArmani Group is pleased to announce that it has entered into a long term licensing agreement with Venchi for the production and distribution of Armani/Dolci.

 

The new agreement with Venchi, market leader in Italy in the high quality chocolate sector, will cover the production and distribution throughout the world of Armani/Dolci products including chocolate, pâtes de fruits, ice creams and panettone.

Armani/Dolci perfectly unites the stylistic elegance and sophistication of Armani with the production ethos of Venchi, summed up by the philosophy, “good, pure and genuine”. This Piedmontese firm actually uses recipes that are up to 130 years old and are faithful to the culture of the region’s chocolate making tradition, while at the same time exploring the evolution of taste in an innovative way that successfully anticipates market trends. Venchi’s insistence on highlighting the essential sensory qualities of all its products is matched by a research programme focused on reducing the environmental impact of the production process. Priority is also given to the selection of local raw ingredients such as IGP certified hazel nuts from Piedmont, and the demand that suppliers of the finest cocoa mass must follow Fair Trade practices.

 

Giorgio Armani, President and CEO of the Armani Group, says: “This new collaboration with Venchi represents the natural fusion of my desire to offer our clients Armani/Dolci products of the highest quality, already recognised and appreciated throughout the world, with the exceptional skills and traditions of the Italian market leader in the quality chocolate sector.”

Daniele Ferrero, President of Venchi, says: "I am honoured to be able to inaugurate this collaboration. By bringing together the dynamic force of the Armani/Dolci brand with the established excellence of Venchi confectionery, Italian chocolate will finally be able to compete on equal terms with global producers of high quality chocolate, in a market place that has been until now the virtual preserve of French and Belgian chocolatiers. Our intention is to build Armani/Dolci into the benchmark for fine Italian confectionery throughout the world.”

The Giorgio Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and luxury goods groups in the world today, with over 5,000 direct employees and 13 factories. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewellery, home furnishings, fragrances and cosmetics under a range of brand names: Giorgio Armani Privé, Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Armani Collezioni, AJ | Armani Jeans, A/X Armani Exchange, Armani Junior, Armani Baby and Armani Casa. The exclusive distribution network of the Group comprises 75 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 166 Emporio Armani shops, 19 Armani Collezioni shops, 165 A/X Armani Exchange shops, 17 AJ | Armani Jeans shops, 8 Armani Junior shops, 10 Giorgio Armani Accessori shops, 2 Emporio Armani Accessori shops, 27 Armani Casa shops and 14 Emporio Armani Caffés, in 46 countries around the world.

 

Venchi is the Italian market leader in the high quality chocolate sector. With a forecast turnover of €32 million for 2010, achieved through the sale of products in over 8,500 outlets in Italy and from distribution in over 50 foreign countries, Venchi unites the age old traditions of Piedmontese chocolate making with adherence to the most advanced ecological values and health awareness policies of the new millennium. Evolution and experimentation is the platform for the firm’s ability to anticipate trends in the Italian and global marketplace.

 

 

For further information, please contact:      

 

Giorgio Armani S.p.A.

Press Office

Tel +39 02 723181