La Linea Verde is preparing to take another step in its international expansion with the opening of a new production facility in North Baltimore, Ohio, in 2027. The announcement was made by Domenico Battagliola, CEO of La Linea Verde Group, during a meeting with journalists held at the company’s headquarters in Manerbio, Brescia, on 15 October, marking the 20th anniversary of the DimmidiSì brand.
“La Linea Verde has been operating in Spain and Serbia for some time. We have been present in Canada since 2025 and, in 2026, we expanded our presence in Belgium and France. At the same time, BCS became La Linea Verde Benelux. Production will begin in North Baltimore, Ohio, in 2027,” Battagliola explained.
The international expansion forms part of the group’s strategy to anticipate changes in consumer behaviour while maintaining its focus on ready-to-eat products.
“We want to adapt to and anticipate change,” Battagliola said. “We are dealing with consumers who have less and less time, but who do not want to compromise on having more free time thanks to ready-to-eat salad packs.”
For the group, technology is a means rather than an end. “Technology is not the goal, but a tool for transforming consumer needs into concrete solutions,” he added, stressing that international growth is also about understanding new cultures and markets while maintaining the company’s identity.
The US as a new growth market
North America has become the group’s latest strategic growth area. After initial trials in French-speaking Canada in 2025, La Linea Verde has been assessing consumer preferences in the region before establishing a local production base.
“Between February and March, we’ll be opening the factory in Ohio,” Battagliola said. The 10,000-square-metre facility will produce ready meals, soups, purées and risottos.
The location is considered a strategic entry point into the US market. According to Battagliola, the plant is positioned within the Boston-New York-Chicago triangle, an area with around 180 million consumers whose tastes are considered relatively close to those of European consumers.
“It is our ideal entry point because we have a very short supply chain between the production and processing areas,” he explained.
La Linea Verde generated approximately €400 million in turnover in 2025 and invested €17.6 million, 42% more than in 2024. Its Manerbio headquarters covers more than eight hectares and employs around 700 people.
Innovation starts with understanding consumption occasions
Consumer behaviour was also at the centre of the company’s strategy. Matteo Laconi, marketing director at La Linea Verde, explained that innovation should begin by understanding not only what consumers purchase, but also when and why they choose a particular product.
“For us, understanding change means realising not only what consumers buy, but when, why and on what occasion they choose a product,” Laconi said. “Innovation comes from the ability to identify a need and develop a relevant solution.”
This approach is particularly relevant to the ready-to-eat category, where convenience is increasingly combined with quality, taste and wellbeing.
Convenience and wellbeing drive growth
During the event, Christian Centonze and Matteo Zanibon from Nielsen presented research into changing consumption patterns in Italy.
Centonze noted that, despite a population decline of 1.4 million since 2019, mass-market consumption has increased by 2% in volume. Convenience products have grown by 25%, while wellness-oriented products have increased by 34%.
The evolution of fresh ready meals reflects this shift. Consumers are increasingly looking for products that combine convenience, quality, taste and wellbeing, turning ready meals from an occasional purchase into a more established choice.
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Centonze also highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between manufacturers and retailers. Brands contribute innovation and consumer trust, while retailers play a key role in visibility and accessibility at the point of sale.
Demographic changes will reshape demand
The Nielsen research also points to significant demographic changes ahead. Italy’s population is concentrated in the 50–60 age group, while the number of households with children is expected to decline by 12% over the next decade. Single-person households, meanwhile, are forecast to increase by 9.5%, while the population aged between 61 and 75 is expected to grow by 18%.
Purchasing power is also unevenly distributed. Families with children are facing greater financial pressure, while mature households currently have greater spending power.
These changes are expected to influence the development and positioning of convenience products in the coming years.
Fresh ready meals offer further opportunities
According to the research presented, around 70% of ready-to-eat salads are consumed on the day of purchase. This could create an opportunity to reconsider shelf-life strategies in favour of greater flavour and product quality, particularly since existing consumers place greater importance on quality, including nutritional value, than on price.
Ready-made soups are another growing convenience solution. 39% are purchased by single-person households and consumed as a single meal, highlighting their relevance to changing household structures.
The challenge for brands is to continue innovating and communicating the value of these products, while retailers need to ensure visibility, accessibility and engagement at the point of sale. Making soups less seasonal through new recipes and maintaining their presence on shelves will also be important.
Enriched salads are similarly gaining traction, particularly for lunches consumed outside the home, although La Linea Verde sees further potential in increasing their consumption at home.
For the DimmidiSì brand and La Linea Verde Group, the strategy is therefore centred on a combination of international expansion, consumer insight and product innovation, with the forthcoming Ohio plant set to become a key element of the group’s next phase of growth.
