Panzani
French pasta brand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Panzani is a French brand of pasta. Since 2021, it has been owned by CVC Capital Partners.[1][2]
| Industry | Food |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1950 |
| Headquarters | Lyon, France |
| Revenue | €578 million (2019) |
| €48 million (2019) | |
Number of employees | 745 |
| Website | www |
Overview
The brand was started by Jean Panzani in Parthenay in 1950.[2] In the 1950s, he sold pasta in cellophane whereas other companies used cardboard.[2] From 1960 to 1964, it merged with La Lune and Régia Scaramelli.[2] It was in the 1960s that it became the market leader in pasta wholesalers in France. In 1964, Roland Barthes analysed a commercial by Panzani in his essay entitled 'The Rhetoric of the Image', suggesting Panzani was trying to come across as Italian.[3][4][5][6]
In 1973, it was bought by Groupe Danone.[2] Its TV commercials featured André Aubert as Don Patillo, a namesake for Don Camillo, made famous by Fernandel.[2]
In 1997, it was bought by Paribas Affaires Industrielles.[2] In 2002, it bought Lustucru, another French brand of pasta.[2]
In April 2005, it was bought by Ebro Foods.[2]
In 2013, a horse meat fraud was discovered in Panzani ravioli produced by William Saurin.[7]
At the end of 2021, it was acquired by CVC Capital Partners.[1]
