The Nestle Group has signed an agreement to sell its Italian business, which includes brands such as La Valle Degli Orti, Mare Fresco and Surgela, to FRoSTA.

The company’s latest decision is in line with its investment and development plan for the Italian market.

Established in 1963, FRoSTA Group is engaged in the production of frozen food products through eight manufacturing facilities with nearly 1,600 employees.

Operational in the Italian market since 1989, the group has been identified as the ideal partner by the global nutrition company to acquire the business branch and continue the development and promotion of the brands and related business activities.

"Nestle plans to make a €48m investment to revamp the production lines in the Benevento factory by introducing advanced technologies."

The deal is part of Nestles development plan announced in December last year, and will see its Benevento factory in Italy become ‘an international hub’ that will focus on the production of Buitoni frozen pizzas.

Nestle plans to make a €48m investment to revamp the production lines in the Benevento factory by introducing advanced technologies.

These would make the plant capable of meeting both domestic and international demand.

The company further stated that the new deal will not affect the employment at the Benevento production facility.

It is expected to improve employment opportunities through its advancement of the development plan that includes an increase in frozen pizza production.