For Slomp, a Trentino-based company specializing in berries, 2025 is a significant year as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. It is a year of reflection and celebration but also a time to lay the foundation for future growth.
Among the novelties for Slomp, which has a network of about a hundred berry suppliers, 80% of whom are local, is its participation in Macfrut, the international trade fair for professionals in the fruit and vegetable sector that covers the entire supply chain and this year marks the debut of the Berry Area.
“This is the first time we are participating with our own stand at an industry fair. It’s an opportunity to meet potential customers and suppliers and to connect with our current suppliers. The Berry Area will serve as a logistical hub for organizing various meetings.
At Macfrut, we also hope to explore new contacts, see what the market offers in terms of new services to discover, and create new collaborations,” Nicola Slomp told Italian Berry. He manages administration and development for the family business.
Slomp's 50 years and the growth of berries
Slomp's 50 years in business mark an important milestone. Since the early 1990s, the company has introduced berries to its product range, starting with raspberries, then blackberries, and finally experiencing a real boom in interest for blueberries.
“We are working on an event,” Nicola Slomp continued, “that will bring together all our stakeholders. This anniversary is an opportunity to take stock and look forward.
It won't be easy to find a date in 2025 that fits the schedules of all the producers supplying Slomp, but we are working on it.”
Looking at the recent history of berries, Slomp's growth has been gradual but steady: “The introduction of berries completely transformed the company, brought about an organizational shift, and led us to specialize in small fruits.
Growth strategies and future goals
Today, Slomp's portfolio is primarily berries, along with cherries, apricots, and plums. In the 1990s, the first dedicated machinery was introduced, and the first decade of the 2000s marked a fresh start for us.
We experienced a flood, but the recovery, in a way, accelerated the process. We decisively embraced the path of berries. Between 2010 and 2020, we consolidated our position, strengthening commercial relationships with both large-scale distribution and suppliers.
We view this decade as one in which we need to position ourselves, invest in berry initiatives, both in warehousing and organizational improvements. We aim to enhance our service and increase brand recognition.
According to Slomp, growth in the berry sector requires being reliable in both product quality and supply consistency.
The partnership with Paramount Pictures
“What we are noticing,” Nicola Slomp continued, “is that being a serious and reliable partner makes a difference. It is a fundamental aspect, along with quality.
We want to continue in this direction. For customers, service is key—ensuring reliable deliveries and maintaining consistent product availability.
Precisely on the occasion of its participation in the Berry Area of Macfrut, Slomp will in fact present a collaboration with Paramount Pictures for the arrival in Italy of 'The Smurfs - The Movie'.
At Macfrut the stand will be entirely branded with the graphics of the beloved little blue men while the collaboration between Paramount Pictures and Slomp will continue on the occasion of the film's theatrical release on 28 August 2025. A way to bring children closer to berries and to increase consumer awareness.
The berry market
“The idea is to take an organic approach and make our brand recognizable, especially to the end consumer.
We want to shorten the distance with them. This is necessary to receive direct feedback in a highly fragmented market.
The berry market continues to grow, with blueberries maintaining strong momentum. Slomp, from its perspective, confirms this trend.
“In 2024, we saw further consolidation in the blueberry market. In the off-season, we observed growing interest in raspberries, although in the early months of 2025, there were supply challenges.
The berry sector does not allow for hesitation—problems must be resolved quickly, which can make the difference between a good and a bad season.”
Barbara Righini
Berry AreaThis article is part of a series dedicated to Berry Area in co-operation with Macfrut 2025. This content is in support of the event which will take place May 6-8, 2025 in Rimini Expo Centre, where the Berry Area stands as a reference point for all those seeking innovative solutions for the production and marketing of berries. 👉 Learn more about the Berry Area at this link. |
