Profile

AT A GLANCE

Overview

The Group

Today Benetton Group is one of the best-known fashion companies in the world. Present in 120 countries with a network of over 6,500 stores, its total turnover exceeds 2 billion euro a year. Under the guidance of Alessandro Benetton, Chairman of Benetton Group since April 2012, it is more than ever a responsible group that plans for the future and lives in the present, with a watchful eye to the environment, to human dignity, and to a society in transformation.

The Group has a consolidated identity comprised of colour, authentic fashion, quality at democratic prices and passion for its work: these values are reflected in the strong, dynamic personality of the brands United Colors of Benetton, Undercolors of Benetton, Sisley and Playlife.

Business Model

The Group’s commercial presence is guided by a flexible operational approach, applying market development strategies through two different distribution channels:  wholesale which represents around 76% of aggregate Apparel sales and retail, which represents around 24%.

Headquarters

Benetton Group headquarters are located in Villa Minelli, Ponzano, about 30 km from Venice. Villa Minelli is a complex of 16th century buildings of great historical and cultural interest.

The complex was purchased by the Benetton Group in 1969 and later restored and modernized by the architects Afra and Tobia Scarpa. The renovation work took over fifteen years to complete. Since the mid 1980s, Villa Minelli has been the Group’s base and the nerve centre of its business activities

Edizione Srl

Edizione Srl, the holding company of the Benetton family, reported consolidated turnover of 11.6 billion Euro in 2010, with the group’s total number of employees exceeding 85,000 people. Edizione operates in the retail sector, principally with the shareholdings in Benetton Group and Autogrill, and through its subsidiary Sintonia SA, in the sector of infrastructure and mobility services, with shareholdings in Atlantia-Autostrade per l’Italia, Investimenti Infrastrutture (Gemina-Aereoporti di Roma), SAGAT.
Edizione is also present in the real estate, agriculture, hotel and sports sectors, and has portfolio equity investments in, among others, Mediobanca, Assicurazioni Generali, RCS and Pirelli.
The parent company has the objective of facilitating its subsidiaries’ expansion plans and strengthening their presence in the relevant business sectors, through, among others, the acquisition of new shareholdings both in Italy and abroad, enhancing the value of international relationships developed over the years.

www.edizione.it

Key data

Main financial data

Sales by brand and geographic area (2011)

Stores

The Group has a distribution network of over 6,500 stores in 120 countries around the world.

The development of the sales network, which occupies prime positions in historic town centres and shopping centres, is supported by a significant programme of investments around the world.
The new stores exploit highly modular settings to create spaces in which the collections, their colours and design are always at the centre of attention, and are presented in a retail context that is increasingly attractive, dynamic and interactive.

Communication

Benetton’s “universal” communication has accompanied the Group's global expansion. When companies export around the world, they normally adapt their advertising to suit different areas. Benetton chooses a single, universal message that is valid for all: beyond borders, skin colour and language.

Social Commitment

The Benetton Group aims at all times to combine economic growth with social commitment, competitiveness, care for the environment, business and ethics. The people – their moral values, daily input and desire to look to the future and to be the best – are considered central to every plan and action and, step by step, are made to be more involved and responsible, starting with the identification of areas of excellence to possible areas for improvement.