Italian threads are the style in Chile’s aquaculture

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Kate Casey

When the huge blue warehouse with the Italian name appeared along the Puerto Montt highway in 2001, many wondered why such an oversized warehouse and what could possibly be inside? Locals knew nothing of the Italian family business history or of its intentions of winning over the salmon industry. Pablo Aravena, currently general manager of Badinotti Chile, has been with the company since its quiet beginning in 2001. Starting out as finance manager under the direction of Paolo Tizzoni B., great grandson of the company founder, Aravena quickly learned of this Milanese family’s reputation and standards for quality. Chile’s salmon industry as well as the commercial fishing industry has also learned of the difference seen in the flawless Italian threads, and have since helped the company win over 70% of the market share in salmon net manufacturing.

Such success did not happen overnight of course. The initial three years from 2001 to 2003 were more difficult than expected due to salmon prices hitting the floor, and the industry hesitant to big investment spending. Times have changed however and the Badinotti group is now setting its sights on further investment in Chile. “Although it [Badinotti Chile] is not the most lucrative in terms of volume, the company is stable and strongly consolidated. The company directors look upon it with much care and affection,” states Aravena. In Latin America, the Badinotti group has net manufacturing operations in Chile and Peru. In Peru, the group also owns a fleet of commercial fishing vessels for anchovy.