RICHMOND, VA. – Verona, Italy-based Veronesi Holding S.p.A., producer of cured meats, will be bringing its first US production operation to Rockingham County, Va. The investment will bring 150 new jobs to the county over the next four years. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced the project on Sept. 30.

Veronesi Holding is an Italian, privately traded company with more than €3.1 billion ($3.6 billion) in sales in 2020 and 9,000 employees. The company is the largest vertically integrated poultry and hog producer in Italy with products ranging from feed to fresh and cured meats.

“This is a very ambitious project for us, and it marks an important step for our company,” said Luigi Fasoli, chief executive officer of Veronesi Holding S.p.A. “We want to start a new chapter in our history and establish in this country our first-ever production site for cured meats abroad, offering Americans all our expertise with the maximum freshness and quality. It is with great enthusiasm that we chose Virginia, where we found all the necessary ingredients to live our American dream.”

The new facility will be located on 75.8 acres in Rockingham County’s Innovation Village. The plant will house aging, processing and packaging operations for cured meat and charcuterie products.
 
 Governor Northam and his staff first met with company officials in Italy to start discussing the potential deal during an international trade and marketing mission in July 2018.
 
 “We are pleased that Veronesi Holding S.p.A. chose Virginia, the home of nearly 900 internationally owned businesses, to grow in the US,” Northam said. “The Commonwealth’s sophisticated infrastructure and world-class transportation network are key assets that attract global businesses looking to expand into new markets. We welcome one of Europe’s leading food and beverage companies to Virginia and Rockingham County and look forward to its success in the Commonwealth.”

Brian Ball, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade, added, “Veronesi Holding S.p.A.’s new US operation is a substantial addition to Virginia’s diverse food and beverage processing sector and is a perfect fit for the Shenandoah Valley. The state-of-the-art facility in Rockingham County will enable the company to build on its centuries-old legacy of high-quality products, and we thank Veronesi for choosing the Commonwealth for this major investment.”
 
 The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Rockingham County, the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, and the Port of Virginia to secure this project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $3.8 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Rockingham County with the project. Veronesi plans to invest $100 million in the project over the next four years.

“When a world-wide brand like Veronesi Holding S.p.A. decides to build its first US production facility in Virginia, it sends a very positive message about our business climate,” said Stephen A. Edwards, Virginia Port Authority chief executive officer and executive director. “We are ready to collaborate with Veronesi Holding, help build its business, and serve as its gateway for trade in the US. This is another example of what a pro-business environment that is supported by a world-class port can achieve.”