The Centrale del Latte di Alessandria e Asti, a pillar of the agri-food industry in the province of Alessandria, has recently hit the headlines for the economic challenges in which it is the protagonist. Following the start of the liquidation process last February, the climate of uncertainty has intensified, putting the livelihoods of many workers and their families at risk.
Raffaele Benedetto, provincial secretary of Flai Cgil, during a demonstration organized in front of the company headquarters, underlined the unsurpassed quality of the milk produced, emphasizing the importance of this production reality not only for the families directly involved, but for the entire local economic fabric. “The ASL also confirms the high standard of this milk, the result of excellent quality procedures. It is tragic that we have to reach such a critical situation for one of the few agri-food businesses in our territory,” declared Benedetto.
Currently, the company directly supports 48 families, without counting many others indirectly connected through related activities. The prospects for the next few weeks are far from rosy, with real risks of not being able to have the raw materials necessary for production, a situation that further aggravates the scenario.
In a gesture of responsibility, the workers chose not to paralyze the company’s operations with a strike, opting instead for a protest, from which to launch an appeal to entrepreneurs in the sector. The objective is to find who can carry on the business and maintain the products under the Centrale del Latte di Alessandria and Asti brand. At the same time, Benedict requested a more substantial intervention on the part of the institutions, hoping for concrete solutions rather than a continuous exchange of accusations which contributes little to resolving the crisis.
In this difficult context, the workers’ solidarity emerges forcefully: many of them will participate in Cibus, the agri-food fair held in Parma, in the hope of attracting the interest of potential investors. Their hope is that forms of partnership can be explored, while ensuring the continuity of the historic brand.
The situation of the Centrale del Latte of Alessandria and Asti represents a wake-up call for the entire agri-food sector of the region and reflects the difficulties that many companies are facing in an increasingly complex and globalized economic context. The response that will be given to this crisis will be indicative of the value attributed to maintaining quality production and local roots in a world increasingly oriented towards standardization.
