Gruppo di Luca wins prestigious Albert Bonnier award

Gruppo Di Luca, the parent company of Enjoy Wines and Spirits, has been awarded Albert Bonnier’s “Company of the Year Award” in Sweden. The award was presented on 16 May to Paola, Christian and Gabriella Di Luca, who: “with great success have brought Gruppo Di Luca to new heights”.

“It is an amazing recognition for us to be awarded the Albert Bonnier prize. We think that sales and profit are important, but what drives us is spreading passion for the Italian kitchen and tradition”, said winners Gabriella, Paola and Christian Di Luca. 

Gruppo Di Luca had turnover of more than 1bn SEK in 2013. All companies in the group enjoy steady annual growth.

The “Albert Bonnier Company of the Year” prize was established 27 years ago on Albert Bonnier’s 80th birthday, with the aim of encouraging entrepreneurship in Sweden. This year the award was given to Gruppo Di Luca, whose companies include Enjoy Wine & Spirits, with its brands such as Pasqua, Mezzacorona, Fontanafredda, Umani Ronchi, Baron de Ley, Calvet, Perrin, Hidden Rock  and Tr3 Apor, and Di Luca Di Luca, which owns well-known food brands like ZETA and Delizie as. Previous winners of the prize, which is awarded each year, include Stefan Persson (H&M) in 2011, Jan Stenbeck (Kinnevik), and Lillemor and Björn Jakobsson (Babybjörn). 

Gruppo Di Luca was founded by Fernando Di Luca, who came to Sweden on his Lambretta in 1961. He has achieved many great things and is solely responsible for bringing olive oil to the Swedish market. He started the wine business in 1982 and it has grown into the fifth largest importer of wines and spirits. Over the years, Enjoy has won many prizes, including “Importer of the Year” four times.

“It is humbling to be part of such a success story, but it is also proof of all the hard work we all put in”, said Thomas Holstein, CEO of Enjoy Wine and Spirits. Christian Di Luca added: “We are overwhelmed, this is the most prestigious recognition a business owner can get in Sweden.”

In addition to the Albert Bonnier award, Fernando Di Luca has been voted the 19th most renowned entrepreneur of all time in Sweden after Erling Persson who started H&M (in 18th place). Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, topped the poll,  which was published by Svenska Dagladet, one of the most respected newspapers in Sweden.

For more information about the award, Gruppo Di Luca, Di Luca Di Luca and Enjoy Wine & Spirits, please contact; Thomas Holstein, CEO Enjoy Wine & Spirits, thomas.holstein@enjoywine.se