Key Takeaways
- • Clessidra Private Equity acquired a 70% majority stake in Citres, a family-owned Italian preserves maker known for pesto-to-salsa products, according to Just Food.
- • Citres generated revenues of around €40m ($44.8m) in 2025, with exports accounting for approximately 40% of sales, per the company statement.
- • The Compri family, which founded Citres in 1958, retains a 30% stake and will remain actively involved in operations; financial terms were not disclosed.
- • The deal is the third for Clessidra's Clessidra Green Harvest fund, launched last year to back agri-food SMEs in Italy.
- • Clessidra's stated goals include expanding production capacity, strengthening international presence, and maintaining a strong ESG focus across the value chain.
Summary
Clessidra Private Equity has added to its food-sector holdings with the acquisition of a 70% stake in Citres, the family-owned Italian preserves business. According to a statement announcing the transaction, reported by Just Food, financial terms were not disclosed. Citres is a supplier of pesto-to-salsa products operating from a 30,000-square-metre site in Bovolone, northern Italy.
The Compri family, which established Citres in 1958, will retain a 30% stake and remain "actively involved in its operations." Lorena and Davide Compri, children of founder Renzo Compri, have run the business for the last 40 years. Lorena Compri described the transaction as reflecting "the changing dynamics of our market," and said the partnership is already producing concrete initiatives, including ongoing expansion of production capacity. Just Food has asked whether Lorena and Davide Compri will remain with the business; no answer is reported in the available material.
According to the statement, Citres generated revenues of approximately €40m ($44.8m) in 2025, with exports representing around 40% of sales. Clessidra Private Equity Managing Director Marco Guglielminetti said the goal is to "accelerate the company's growth by expanding production capacity, strengthening its presence in international markets and maintaining a strong focus on ESG across the entire value chain."
The investment is the third made through the Clessidra Green Harvest fund, which Clessidra set up last year to back agri-food small and medium-sized enterprises in Italy. The fund's previous deal included a majority stake in Italian baked goods maker Laurieri, acquired in November for an undisclosed sum.
The Compri family, which established Citres in 1958, will retain a 30% stake and remain "actively involved in its operations." Lorena and Davide Compri, children of founder Renzo Compri, have run the business for the last 40 years. Lorena Compri described the transaction as reflecting "the changing dynamics of our market," and said the partnership is already producing concrete initiatives, including ongoing expansion of production capacity. Just Food has asked whether Lorena and Davide Compri will remain with the business; no answer is reported in the available material.
According to the statement, Citres generated revenues of approximately €40m ($44.8m) in 2025, with exports representing around 40% of sales. Clessidra Private Equity Managing Director Marco Guglielminetti said the goal is to "accelerate the company's growth by expanding production capacity, strengthening its presence in international markets and maintaining a strong focus on ESG across the entire value chain."
The investment is the third made through the Clessidra Green Harvest fund, which Clessidra set up last year to back agri-food small and medium-sized enterprises in Italy. The fund's previous deal included a majority stake in Italian baked goods maker Laurieri, acquired in November for an undisclosed sum.
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