Caroli Foods Group, one of the leading producers of packaged meat products in Romania, is taking a significant step toward improving the environmental performance of its operations and increasing energy efficiency through the use of its own photovoltaic plant, located near its factory in Pitești.

The investment, valued at over 1.3 million euro and financed entirely through the company’s own resources, supports Caroli Foods Group’s production activities in Argeș County. The company’s Pitești facility manufactures over 200 packaged meat products and ready meals, marketed under the Caroli, Sissi, Campofrio, Maestro, and Primo brands.

“By investing in our own renewable energy production, we are strengthening our operational efficiency, increasing the resilience of our business, and supporting the company’s long-term sustainable development. The city of Pitești and Argeș County play a central role in the growth of Caroli Foods Group, and this investment demonstrates our commitment to continuing the development of our local operations in an environmentally responsible and energy-efficient manner. By increasing our energy autonomy and utilizing energy from renewable sources, we create value for both the company and the local community,” stated Giampaolo Manzonetto, CEO of Caroli Foods Group.

Approximately 23% of the Pitești factory’s energy requirements are covered by solar power

According to project estimates, the electricity generated by the photovoltaic plant is expected to cover approximately 23% of the factory’s annual electricity consumption. By replacing a portion of the electricity purchased from the grid with energy produced by the solar farm, it is estimated that approximately 610 tonnes of CO₂ emissions can be avoided annually, compared to the grid-supply scenario used for these calculations.

3,600 photovoltaic panels to power the factory

Located on land owned by Caroli Foods Group, in the immediate vicinity of the Pitești factory, the new photovoltaic farm spans an area of ​​22,000 square meters. It represents a strategic investment aimed at increasing the share of renewable energy used in the factory’s operations. The infrastructure consists of 3,600 monocrystalline photovoltaic panels, each with a capacity of 700 W, resulting in a combined nominal capacity of 2.52 MW.

The solar farm’s annual electricity production is estimated at 2,750 MWh; all the energy generated is consumed entirely by the factory itself, with no electricity fed back into the national grid.

“The Pitești factory is the hub of our production operations, and this investment in our own photovoltaic farm marks a new milestone in the long-term development of the production facility. Integrating solar energy into the factory’s consumption directly contributes to increased operational efficiency, optimal resource utilization, and better predictability of energy costs. At the same time, this project supports the factory’s long-term competitiveness and strengthens our ability to produce in a responsible and efficient manner,” states Adrian Trifan, Factory Director at Caroli Foods Group, Pitești. Located in Pitești, Argeș County, the Caroli Foods Group factory serves as the hub of the company’s operations and is the workplace for approximately 700 of its 1,250 employees. With an annual production capacity exceeding 30,000 tons, the facility supports the development of a portfolio comprising over 200 products.