Article by Massimiliano Luce.
Taking the helm of a company following the sudden passing of a CEO who shaped its course is a complex challenge, both professionally and personally. This is the context in which Gianluca Beschi assumed the role of CEO at Sabaf, an international company specializing in the production of components for household appliances and cooking systems.
After nearly thirty years with the Group—as CFO and in other managerial roles—Beschi inherits a significant legacy. For him, the legacy left by Pietro Iotti concerns above all the change in approach introduced by the former CEO. “This reflection gave rise to a new vision for the Group. A more open and market-oriented organization, designed to support a clear ambition: to make growth the Group’s strategic priority, to be pursued both through organic business development and through external acquisitions. Looking to the future, we will continue to pursue this strategic direction with determination”.
Gas and induction: two complementary paths
In recent years, the Group has expanded its scope beyond its traditional gas business, investing decisively in electronics and induction cooking technologies. This transformation will continue in the coming years, without, however, neglecting the opportunities offered by the global gas market.
“Gas continues to be the primary energy source for cooking globally and is poised to maintain its growth momentum in the coming years. Today, approximately two billion people still use traditional solid fuels, such as coal and biomass, for cooking. The gradual transition of these populations toward gas-powered solutions represents a development path with significant social, health, and environmental benefits. In this context, Sabaf will continue to view the Gas Division as a strategic pillar of its business model. Our efforts will be focused on seizing the opportunities offered by evolving global demand, with particular attention to international expansion and emerging markets, where demographic and economic trends present the greatest growth prospects.
At the same time, we will continue to invest in the development of other cooking technologies, starting with induction—an area in which we have made significant investments and in which we intend to establish ourselves as a leading player known for our expertise and reliability”.
Hydrogen is also among the possible future scenarios, an area in which the company has already gained some concrete experience. “As for hydrogen, we have participated in experimental projects that have yielded positive results and confirmed the validity of the solutions developed. The main challenge facing us today concerns not so much the technology itself as the availability of the infrastructure needed to support its large-scale adoption. In addition to cooking components, we continue to carefully evaluate opportunities to further expand our product portfolio, which serves as another lever for strengthening the Group’s strategic positioning”.
Focus on North America, India, and China
International growth remains one of the cornerstones of the company’s strategy. Following the acquisition of Mansfield and the launch of the production facility in Mexico, North America continues to be a priority market. Alongside the consolidation of its North American presence, the new CEO identifies emerging economies as one of the main drivers of future growth. “For example, we are approaching the Indian market with an approach that is increasingly tailored to local specifics, to capitalize on the opportunities offered by rapidly expanding demand. We also intend to tackle the Chinese market with renewed momentum, leveraging the expertise we have gained through many years of direct presence there”.
Growth that also looks to acquisitions
In recent years, the Group has built an increasingly diversified presence thanks to a series of strategic acquisitions. According to Beschi, this process may not yet be complete. “We are very satisfied with the progress of the integration process for the acquired companies, which is proceeding in line with expectations and is allowing us to progressively capitalize on the opportunities identified at the time of the transactions. The expertise gained through this growth process will enable us to fully leverage the synergies within the Group. Building on this track record, Sabaf is ready to evaluate further growth opportunities through external expansion, while consistently maintaining a rigorous approach aligned with the guidelines we have established for ourselves”.
