The course of time has defined the experience and expertise of a visionary, close-knit group of companies.
The Beginning
The beginning of our story can be found in the words of Kent Johansson, who, as a young salesman for the American company Braun, travelled to Italy to install FLO’s first thermoforming machine. It was 1973…
“I arrived here in Italy as a young man working for the American company that had manufactured this machine in 1973.
During the year in which I worked for Flo, from 1973 to 1974, the factory was still under construction, with exposed bricks. When I first started, it was sometime between November and December, one of the harshest winters we had ever had in Italy, and I recall the factory not having any windows or chimney.
Back in those days, Antonio could speak German but didn’t know any English, whereas I couldn’t speak German but, because I lived in Sweden, I spoke a bit of English. Therefore, communication was not easy and for this reason Antonio hired a young lady called Elvira to be our interpreter, with whom I immediately fell in love. The winter was so cold that we decided to put a tent in the middle of the establishment with a heater. The image I recall is that of the interpreter completely covered, with only her eyes and mouth visible, trying to translate what we were saying. We didn’t even have the equipment to move the machine, no forklift, no crane. Initially we didn’t know how to get it done, but then we thought of using the car jack and started moving piece by piece: we got it done, but it took us two whole days! We moved the machine twenty centimetres at a time, then fixed it, assembled it, and started it up.1970s
It all started with an idea
... an idea of Antonio Simonazzi, who established FLO S.p.A., a company specialising in the production of plastic cups for vending machines in 1973, in Fontanellato, province of Parma, Italy.
1973
Antonio Simonazzi was the first to realise that it was the dawn of a new sector with a high potential, and he became a leading player in it: at the time, demand far exceeded supply, it was a new and rapidly expanding sector, and only few people were producing technical cups suitable for vending machines!
1979
The acquisition of Vendorplast, a respected competitor specialising in the production of automatic cups in San Polo di Torrile, immediately defined FLO's identity as a company that thinks big and keeps moving forward.
1980s
Entry into the Retail sector
In these years of economic boom, the market for disposable products for domestic consumption also experienced strong growth, in step with FLO's corporate growth.
1981
FLO establishes itself in the retail sector with a dedicated commercial department and a wide range of disposable products for mass consumption: plates, cups, cutlery, napkins.
To achieve its goals, FLO invests in machinery for the production of plastic plates and containers: user friendliness, hygiene and convenience is what consumers look for and and appreciate.
1990s
Conquering Europe
FLO's expansion into Europe begins, with new sales offices in the most strategic countries: Flo Vending in France, Flo Deutschland in Germany, Nupik&Flo in England.
1991-95
In just five years, FLO's turnover doubled from 12 million Euros in 1991 to 25 million in 1995, thanks in part to investments in new equipment and new production departments.
1993
FLO celebrates its first 20th anniversary with Italy's leading vending operators. A strong partnership consolidated over the years that makes the company to be one of the references to the vending sector in Italy.
2000s
From family business to multinational corporation
The incorporation of FLO Europe and the acquisition of ISAP, in association with two important companies in the sector, represent a further breakthrough to serve international markets efficiently and quickly, thanks to new strategic production and logistics hubs.
2003
FLO Europe, the factory producing plastic plates and cups and PAPER napkins for northern European markets, is established in Ruitz, France.
2006
ISAP SpA, a company based in Verona and historically specialised in the production of cups for the Ho.Re.Ca. channel and food containers for the retail and industrial sectors, also joins FLO.
2008
the production of Ecokay, a complete and innovative line of biodegradable and compostable cups starts in Verona
2010s
Towards a sustainable future
FLO chooses sustainable innovation applied to processes and products, raw materials and plant management, to offer greener solutions while reducing its environmental impact.
2011
Hybrid, the first revolutionary ecological cup invented by FLO and meant for vending machines, is created with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of the daily coffee break.
2012
The group expands with the acquisition of BENDERS UK, a Welsh manufacturer of paper cups and folded napkins, with over 100 years of experience in the paper industry.
2013
BDV, the German vending association, honours Antonio Simonazzi 'for his essential contribution' to the sector.
To this day, the founder of FLO is the only Italian entrepreneur to have received this lifetime achievement award from this German association: the value of his experience has been passed on to his children Daniele and Erika Simonazzi, today the Managing Director and Marketing Manager of the FLO group respectively.
2014
From its experience in vending, Flo acquires the necessary know-how to add hot beverage capsules to its traditional range of plastic and cardboard cups. The new department dedicated to the production of single-serve coffee capsules is born.
2018
The Group's Research and Analysis Laboratories kick start their activity: the FCP Lab in Verona, accredited by Accredia, and the Application Laboratory, based in Fontanellato.
2019
The FLO Group acquires majority control of ISAP and BENDERS and becomes a major European player for the production of sustainable disposable packaging and food containers for the Vending, Retail, Food Service and Industrial sectors.
