Gerosa Group, 90 years of packaging: family, innovation and sustainability

To retrace the key stages of this remarkable and inspiring entrepreneurial journey, we spoke with Fabrizio Gerosa, Sales Director and third-generation family member within the company.

by Generoso Verrusio

More than just a chronological milestone, it reflects an industrial legacy that has navigated generations, markets and technological changes while remaining true to its identity. In early October, at the headquarters in Inverigo, in the heart of the Brianza area near Como, Gerosa Group celebrated 90 years of activity by opening its doors to employees and their families, turning the open day into a moment of sharing and collective pride.
Founded in 1935 as a small printing shop, the company is now an international group with five production plants located in Italy, Spain and Romania, three sales branches in Germany and France, and over 900 employees. In 2024, it recorded a turnover of €236 million, up 39% compared to 2015, and is ready to exceed €300 million by 2030. 
Over the past three years, the company has invested around €28 million in new technologies, facilities and research. Innovation and work culture are the pillars that have driven this growth, together with a strong local presence that continues to represent the distinctive hallmark of the Gerosa brand.
To mark the anniversary, we met with Fabrizio Gerosa, Sales Director and third generation of the family, to retrace the steps of this entrepreneurial adventure and look ahead to the challenges of the future.

Ninety years of business is no everyday occasion. If you had to sum up this milestone in a gesture, an image or a word… what would it be? 
“The keyword is family. Not only because we are still today a 100% family-owned company, with three generations involved, but because this spirit of unity and sharing runs through every decision we make. It is the family that has given us the strength to grow, to remain united, and to look to the future with courage”.

It all began in 1935 in a small printing workshop. What part of that artisanal origin still lives on today in your production departments and managerial choices? 
“Printing is an art, and we still firmly believe that. Despite the latest-generation technologies, the human element remains essential. We invest heavily in training, collaborate with technical schools specialising in graphic design - such as the Casnati Institute in Como - and pass on to our operators the passion and attention to detail that already belonged to our grandparents. Today, craftsmanship translates into technical expertise, aesthetic sensitivity, and a deep sense of responsibility towards the end customer”.

The G4R project, with the integrated Cronogard and StealthCode technologies, earned you the Best Packaging Award in 2020. Is it still the perfect embodiment of the Gerosa model? 
"Absolutely. G4R was a concrete example of how we approach innovation: never an end in itself, but the result of a dialogue between technology, sustainability and a network of partners who share the same forward-looking vision. Today you’re continuing along that path, investing in Research and Development – €5.5 million over the past three years – and developing solutions that combine functionality, safety, and environmental responsibility".

Your headquarters are in Inverigo, but from Brianza, you’ve gone on to conquer global markets. How do you preserve your local identity while pursuing international growth? 
"By staying firmly rooted in our territory, but maintaining a global outlook. Inverigo is our home – the place where it all began – and it remains the heart of both our production and key business decisions. But as early as the 1970s, we had the courage to export, especially to Germany; in the 1990s, we began acquiring companies in Italy and Spain, and later opened sales branches in France and Germany. Today, we have five production plants in three countries. We preserve our local identity by valuing people and the culture of work, while global growth is driven by investment, partnerships and adaptability”.

Since 2018, you’ve been reporting your sustainability performance through detailed reports. When did you realise that sustainability was not just responsibility, but also a strategic and cultural driver? 
“Back in the 1980s, when we installed one of Italy’s first solvent recovery plants in Inverigo, we had already understood that sustainability was not a constraint, but an opportunity. Since 2018, we’ve chosen to report on it transparently, because it has become an integral part of our strategy. Today, sustainability is a competitive, cultural and reputational driver: reducing materials, improving recyclability, and calculating the carbon footprint of our products means creating value for all stakeholders”.

Today, packaging is sustainable, interactive and responsible. Where does packaging end and service begin? 
“Packaging is no longer just a wrapper: it’s an interface between brand and consumer. It must protect, communicate, ensure food safety, but also convey values. Our most innovative lines – from the state-of-the-art facilities in Brescia to the solutions developed at our Innovation Centre – show that the boundary between packaging and service is becoming increasingly blurred”.

The open day with employees and their families was also a success in terms of attendance. Is there a face or story that best captures the spirit of the company? 
“We welcomed over 600 people, including employees and their families. It’s hard to pick just one face, because the Gerosa spirit is made up of many stories: those who’ve been with us for decades, those who have just joined, and those who’ve seen the company grow alongside their own children. Ultimately, the Gerosa spirit is the community itself, people bound by a common purpose, who embody its very essence”.

Looking far ahead – what dreams and goals do you have for the next 90 years? 
“Our dream is to keep growing without losing our identity. We aim to exceed €300 million in turnover by 2030, strengthening our leadership in Europe and exploring new markets beyond the Continent. But above all, we want to remain a family-owned company that can innovate, attract talent, and contribute to the ecological transition. The next 90 years will be shaped by the new generations, with the same courage and passion as those who came before”.