As Cigierre – Compagnia Generale Ristorazione S.p.A. –
marks its 30th anniversary, CEO and Founder Marco Di Giusto is steering the
company into a new phase of growth, innovation, and renewed corporate identity.
The group behind well-known restaurant brands such as Old Wild West, Smashie,
Wiener Haus, and Pizzikotto is celebrating three decades of success by
unveiling a new Carta dei Valori and announcing a major three-year
development plan worth over €60 million.
“For us, thirty years is an important milestone
– said Marco Di Giusto – But above all, it’s a starting point for the future”.
Reflecting on Cigierre’s legacy and ambitions, Di Giusto emphasized the dual
focus that will guide the company: an investment in people, particularly
younger talent, and a strong commitment to innovation and growth. The newly
introduced Carta dei Valori (Charter of Values) was not drafted by
executives alone, but shaped through a collaborative process involving all
employees, with a central role played by team members under 30. According to
the CEO, this choice was deliberate: “We wanted to give our youngest
collaborators a voice, because they are essential to building an increasingly
shared and authentic corporate culture”.
Founded in Udine in 1995, Cigierre began with a bold
intuition by Marco Di Giusto: to create and scale restaurant formats capable of
combining quality, atmosphere, and affordability. Thirty years later, that
vision has grown into a leading casual dining group with six distinctive
brands, Old Wild West, Wiener Haus, Pizzikotto, Smashie, America Graffiti, and
Shi’s, operating across Italy and abroad. In 2024, the company served over 30
million customers, reached €545 million in revenue, and now counts more than
360 restaurants and 5,000 employees. The outlook for 2025 is equally promising,
with expected revenues surpassing €550 million, confirming Cigierre’s robust
growth trajectory. The next three years will see Cigierre investing more than
€60 million to expand its footprint and modernize existing locations. The
development plan reflects a clear strategic direction: strengthening the
group’s presence in the casual and fast-casual dining segments while enhancing
the customer experience.
Key priorities include: opening new restaurants;
renovating several long-established venues; advancing digital innovation;
strengthening product quality through R&D, supplier optimization, and the
company’s Kuore laboratory; continuing professional training through Cigierre
Academy.
Central to Cigierre’s 30th-anniversary celebrations is
the launch of its new Charter of Values. Born from workshops, surveys, and
collaborative sessions, it distills the principles that will shape the group’s
identity moving forward. The six core values are: the strength of the group –
collaboration and shared identity; the power of relationships – building trust
with colleagues, customers, and partners; enhancement of the individual –
recognizing the uniqueness and talent of each person; initiative and innovation
– experimenting, challenging oneself, and continuously improving; responsible
growth – seeking sustainable development that respects people and local
communities; quality – rigorous, consistent standards across every role and
process. Marco Di Giusto’s leadership continues to place strong emphasis on
people and workplace well-being. In 2024, Cigierre obtained the Gender Equality
Certification, confirming the group’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, and
safety. Initiatives launched in the past year include six dedicated training
courses on gender equality; the publication of the Manifesto of Inclusion;
a psychological support desk offered free to employees; internal guidelines for
recognizing and responding to signs of violence. These efforts are generating
tangible results. According to the “In People We Trust 2025” survey conducted
by Largo Consumo, the University of Milano-Bicocca, Ipsos Italia, and Confimprese,
Cigierre employees report a level of engagement higher than the national and
industry averages.
As Cigierre steps into its fourth decade, Marco Di
Giusto’s vision is clear: build on the company’s strong foundations while
empowering a new generation to shape what comes next. “It’s a journey that
unites vision, people, and quality – he said – and as we look to the
years ahead, we build on everything that has brought us here, our experiences,
our skills, and our relationships”.
