OLEIFICIO ZUCCHI, 215 YEARS OF HISTORY IN AN ITALIAN STAMP

The cancellation ceremony, reserved for a selection of Italian agri-food excellences, took place this afternoon in Rome, at the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (MIMIT), in the presence of Alessia Zucchi (President and CEO of Oleificio Zucchi) , Fausta Bergamotto (Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy with responsibility for philately) , institutions, the top management of Poste Italiane and the top management of Oleificio Zucchi.
The stamp—part of the thematic series "Excellence of the Italian Production System and Made in Italy"—is not just a formal recognition, but a tangible symbol of a legacy built step by step, through industrial transformations, social changes, fashions, and technologies. A history that has its roots in 1810, when a small local artisanal oil mill began producing seed oil for human consumption.
Since that first step, Oleificio Zucchi has never stopped growing and renewing itself. In the early decades of the twentieth century, it embarked on the path toward industrialization. It was after World War II, with the reconstruction of the country, that the company gained new momentum, transforming into a joint-stock company and expanding its distribution network. The "Zeta" brand, known to generations of consumers, was born, and collaborations with large-scale retailers began.
The 1990s marked a turning point. The inauguration of the modern plant along the Cremona waterway brought with it a new vision: traceability, respect for the environment, and investment in research, as well as growth in the private label business both in Italy and abroad.
In the 2000s, the sixth generation of the Zucchi family joined the company. It was a true passing of the baton, marking the beginning of a journey toward integrated sustainability, culminating in the creation of the first certified Italian production protocol for the extra virgin olive oil supply chain. The largest temperature-controlled extra virgin olive oil cellar in Italy was built, along with a quality control laboratory and a sustainable logistics system with an internal rail yard.
The transformation into a Benefit Corporation last year is a choice that sanctions the formal commitment to generating value not only for the company, but also for the community and the environment.
The current launch of the gender equality certification process also fits in with this same direction, further confirming a strategy that places people and sustainability at its core.
The stamp's design visually recounts this long journey: the historic logo next to the millstone, a symbol of the artisanal origins, merges with a graphic design inspired by the current logo that recalls the most recent olive oil production, symbolizing a path of growth based on continuous renewal, diversification, and the valorization of one's origins.
" For us, this stamp represents a recognition that goes beyond an anniversary celebration, " said Alessia Zucchi, President and CEO of Oleificio Zucchi . " It is a tribute to all the people who have shaped our history: collaborators, partners, and families who have shared a journey of dedication, innovation, and deep roots. We look to the future with the same spirit as always, continuing to combine tradition and progress ."
" With the issuance of the stamp series Le Eccellenze del sistema produttivo ed economico dedicated to the agri-food sector, we pay tribute to companies with deep roots in their local communities, founded on work well done and perseverance. Generation after generation, these brands have accompanied the lives of Italians and are today recognized in Italy and around the world as synonymous with quality, taste, and reliability. With this gesture, the MIMIT reaffirms its commitment to promoting them, supporting their growth, innovation, and exports ," stated Undersecretary Fausta Bergamotto .
Oleificio Zucchi exports to over 45 countries, employs more than 150 people, and generates a 2024 turnover of over €344 million. Its heart remains anchored in Cremona, its local area, and its employees. A pioneer in sustainability, having reached the 20th edition of its sustainability report this year, with 19 quality certifications, a production system increasingly focused on environmental impact, more than 42,000 annual oil analyses, and a sustainable offering, Oleificio Zucchi holds a leading position in the sector.
The stamp celebrating the 215th anniversary of Oleificio Zucchi, sold at all Poste Italiane philatelic outlets, including in Cremona, joins the permanent collection of the Poste Italiane Historical Museum, bringing with it the story of a company that has combined tradition and avant-garde, family and enterprise, local and global. A small but powerful symbol of what it means to be part of the country's history.