Following the recent liquidation of Ki Group Srl, a historic Italian organic brand, the Kí brand is being revitalized. Taking over the reins is Kí1974 Srl, a business venture born from the commitment of a group of former employees and long-time collaborators, determined to safeguard the human, commercial, and value-based heritage of a brand that has shaped the history of organic farming in Piedmont and Italy.
The historic Kí brand is thus resuming its entrepreneurial journey thanks to a grassroots project, born from the passion of those who shared its origins and growth. A love story for organic products that revives the work of the original Kí founders, Pietro Bianchi and Angelo Saccone, thanks to the tenacity of a small group led by Francesco Bertoncini. He is now the founding partner and managing director of Kí1974 Srl, the newly formed company that acquired the Kí brand, bringing it back to the market as a true testament to the pioneering epic of the natural products sector.
“I have had the privilege of sharing, both personally and professionally, part of the journey of those who created the Kí brand,” said Francesco Bertoncini, founding partner and managing director of Kí1974 Srl. “The newly founded Kí1974 aims to embody their values, their teachings, their philosophy of life: natural products that encourage living wisely, respecting the environment, and in harmony with nature.”
This project also represents a debt of gratitude, born way back in 1981, when Bertoncini was hired by Kí di Pietro Bianchi & C.—from which he still retains his first paycheck. The pioneering spirit of this Turin-based brand, however, has its roots in 1974, when the prestigious Turin hairdresser Pietro Bianchi fell in love with natural nutrition and macrobiotics and decided to invest in this new sector. This is how the first organic biscuits, healthy snacks, and later biscuits, leavened products, gomasio, shoyu, kuzu, and seaweed were born, initially distributed in Northwest Italy.
“We have always believed in the value of organic food as a source of well-being and health,” adds Francesco Bertoncini, “and this has always influenced the quality of our products. And this philosophy has also influenced Roberto Dusio, now a partner with me at Kí1974, and my sons Mathias and Yannick, who enjoyed the pampering and precious advice of the founders Pietro and Angelo in their early years.”
Francesco’s wife, Carmen, is also a key figure in this new entrepreneurial journey.
“We have focused our attention on creating extremely streamlined procedural and operational flows. High levels of professionalism and the strength of extremely flexible and adaptable production structures are characteristics that allow us to easily respond to market demands,” Carmen proudly states, “by listening to the valuable feedback and needs of our sales staff, stores, and end consumers.”
Kí-branded products will be distributed in specialized organic stores, leveraging the extensive experience and variety of offerings these retailers offer their customers. Alongside the Kí brand, a selection of high-quality organic brands will also be available, completing the assortment.
The new headquarters of Kí1974 Srl is located in Rivalta (Turin), at Via Massimo d’Antona 5.
The article Torna Kí: lo storico marchio del biologico italiano rinasce come Kí1974, was originally published in GreenPlanet.
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