We’ve been making really good Italian food since 1939. And ever since those early days, we have always wanted to be more than just a product. Because we are determined that our business does good too. For the good of people, communities and the planet.
So gaining the recognition of B Corp is both an achievement and a natural evolution for us. And the beginning of a new journey too.
Becoming B Corp certified is an important step for us as we join a global movement of companies who commit to being a force for good.
Like the other two thousand businesses in the UK who are accredited, we’re a work in progress and will need to recertify every 3 years, as the world around us will certainly change too…
We were assessed in our home town of Asti Piemonte, in Italy's north west and where all our products are made.
80 is the minimum score needed to certify as B Corp, and this is calculated on answers and evidence covering 200 questions about Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers.
All of our actions were verified independently by B Lab.
The average score for businesses going for B Corp is 50.9, and so we were pleased to achieve a score of 81.9.
So our journey must continue - whilst it's our natural evolution, we're still learning.
Respect is in our nature.
And it’s most important when it comes to our greatest asset, our people. We have a duty to protect and promote their health and wellbeing. And fundamentally improve the quality of life.
Because this is what families do.
We offer flexibility to our team in their hours to accommodate all of life’s little ups and downs, including regular working from home and work from anywhere time. For this, and our personal development initiatives we are recognised as one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work.
Equality is in our DNA and women have been at the helm of our business for generations, from our founding grandmother to the current leaders of the team both in Italy and the UK.
Responsibility is in our nature.
We wish for everyone to have the opportunity to live more happily and healthily. And so we are big advocates for the Mediterranean diet and its benefits, sharing simple recipes on our website and social media. Of course our products themselves are closely linked to Italian traditions.
With every jar of Pesto sold in the UK, we are helping make allergies history by supporting NARF (Natasha's Allergy Research Foundation). We've donated £150,000 since January 2023 because we believe every gesture makes a difference.
Supporting future generations in their studies over recent years has made us all very proud. We have funded 6 student scholarships worth £5,000 each per year of study, offering work experience and even graduate entry roles along the way.
Progress and innovation are in our nature.
When it comes to the environment, our group of companies prides itself on adherence to environmental protocols such as EMAS and ISO 14001.
As a result of continuous improvement we have already decreased energy consumption and have managed to grow without reversing this trend. The processes we follow guarantee transparency when it comes to measuring environmental impact.
We’re currently relocating our production site to Castello di Annone, still in the region of Piemonte. And we’re generating electricity from the vast solar panels on our new roof, powered by the Italian sunshine!
Our ambition is to generate enough electricity to run our plants and a bit extra for our community. The work has started and we will keep on increasing our electricity generation until it meets all needs.
Some of our products including those in our organic range use raw materials that are grown without chemicals. This helps to reduce our environmental impact, of course and our fully recyclable packaging, minimises the waste of natural resources.
So we are writing the next chapter in the story of our family business. We're proud to be part of the vibrant B Corp community, and to be able to run our business as a force for good.
Because for us it's not just a goal, it's our natural evolution.
A message from Chiara Ercole, our Chairperson and the granddaughter of our founders:
“Being a certified B Corp is a natural evolution for Sacla’. We’re a long-established company rooted in the region of Piemonte, Italy, and we feel a deep responsibility to the communities where we work and the environment that surrounds us. Food producers today must play an increasingly active role in helping resolve the environmental and social challenges we’re facing in the world.
B Corp certification recognises our commitment to conducting business more sustainably and, more importantly, it confirms our intention to create a corporate culture that puts ethics and sustainability at our core. It’s not an end goal, but rather a new incentive to continuously improve and generate value, following the key principles of responsibility and transparency.”
