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Rovagnati | Premium cooked ham & more from Milan – As on Facebook was notified in advance I recently visited Milan to tour the production and logistics center of Rovagnati (pronounced "Rova-niati") and learn about their products. Rovagnati is a family business founded in 1941, specializing in sausage and ham. They don't just produce any ham, but also the Rovagnati Gran Biscotto, a product known and loved far beyond Italy's borders, as well as numerous other products and product lines, which are also available in Germany.
In front of the Rovagnati company premises
I had the opportunity to spend a few hours at Italy's largest cooked ham factory, observing both the various production steps for Gran Biscotto and the logistics for Rovagnati's individual products. Each of the seven factories focuses on a specific Rovagnati product category. The Gran Biscotto factory I visited, with its 30,000 square meters of floor space, employs 250 of the company's 1,000 employees. Incredible dimensions for ham production! After the fascinating tour, we enjoyed a tasting. In short, I'd like to tell you about the production process, the exquisite products, and the unique aspects of Rovagnati. If you enjoy ham, I hope you'll become a Rovagnati fan afterward and keep an eye out for their products in German supermarkets, delicatessens, and other stores.
Rovagnati cooked ham in production with branding
Rovagnati – the king of cooked hams: Gran Biscotto
The aforementioned "Gran Biscotto" (meaning "large biscuit") has been the flagship product of Rovagnati since 1980 and is also the best-selling cooked ham on the Italian market. To put it in perspective: Around 180 different Rovagnati cured meat specialties are produced daily in seven factories, and specifically 48,000 Gran Biscotto hams are produced weekly. Incredible, isn't it? Its hallmarks, besides its unique branding, are its savory aroma, the meticulous attention to detail in the traditional production process, and the use of only the finest ingredients. Great care is taken to offer, maintain, and guarantee this high quality. For example, only one in four hams from Italian pigs is suitable for processing into Gran Biscotto. A pig destined for a Gran Biscotto can easily weigh up to 170 kg and is fed exclusively on corn and whey. (For comparison: Danish pigs have an average slaughter weight of around 110 kg and are fed everything they need). The state-of-the-art production process is passed down from generation to generation and implemented in highly technological factories with the support of equally modern equipment. I observed all the production steps closely over several hours and would like to briefly summarize them for you – so you can better understand the "environmental aspects" as well: 1.) Goods receipt, 2.) Cleaning of the hams, 3.) Deboning, 4.) Injection (curing), 5.) Massage, 6.) Shaping of the cooked ham, 7.) Cooking process, 8.) Vacuum sealing process, 9.) Pasteurization, 10.) Shipping to the logistics center in Villasanta. (also visited).
Danish cooked ham (left) and Italian Gran Biscotto cooked ham (right)
In short, the process is as follows: First, excess fat, the foot, and the rind are removed by hand, and then the bone is removed. This alone distinguishes the production from other suppliers, as the leg remains whole and is not chopped up and pressed into a mold as with other ham producers. One of the most important steps in Gran Biscotto production is the subsequent curing process, during which the injected brine imparts the ham its distinctive aroma. I was also shown the enormous containers with the top-secret brine recipe and was able to smell a small pot of the prepared, very pungent mixture. Another crucial aspect of Gran Biscotto premium ham production is the aforementioned more than 24-hour massaging of each individual ham. This gives it an incomparable tenderness and intensifies its flavor. After the ham has completed its seasoning and subsequent resting period, it is steam-cooked for 14-18 hours. This might all sound quite "simple," but the Gran Biscotto ham undergoes over 50 checks during its eight-day (!!) production period, with several people inspecting each stage. Temperature and cleanliness of the meat, multiple weight checks, and many other individual steps ultimately ensure a perfect 9-kilo cooked ham. (By the way, an average cooked ham only takes about three days to produce – just to illustrate the quality differences you can expect from Rovagnati. Explaining every single step in detail would be a bit much. But if you have any questions, feel free to contact me, as I've documented everything meticulously.)
Gran Biscotto Cooked Ham
Gran Biscotto premium ham comes in two varieties: "Gran Biscotto Classico" and "Gran Biscotto alla Brace," the latter with an intense herbal seasoning. During the tasting, I had the opportunity to sample both and was even more impressed by the more intensely seasoned Gran Biscotto than by the classic version, which has a milder, more delicate flavor. Another clear difference from conventional hams is its significantly richer and more vibrant color. This is achieved because no artificial colors are added, allowing the natural coloring (resulting from varying muscle activity) to show through.
The „Gran Gusto“ range for the German market
This selection comprises the 16 best products and specialties from the extensive Rovagnati portfolio and was specially chosen for the German market. "Gran Gusto" means "great taste" and perfectly describes the taste experience when eating these products. So, if you spot "Gran Gusto" with a yellow sun above the Rovagnati logo in the supermarket – give it a try! The range includes cooked and cured ham, mortadella and salami, and antipasto. Below you will find an overview of the Italian products you can buy from us:
Together with Reinert, the extensive potential of the German market will be utilized and expanded. In Germany, a selection of 16 different Rovagnati specialties is available, including the premium cooked ham "Gran Biscotto" and the "Gran Gusto" range. All these products are distributed to the entire wholesale and retail trade via Reinert. With the Gran Biscotto and Gran Gusto concepts, the Rovagnati brand appeals to a steadily growing target group in Germany that appreciates Italian specialties. The transparent packaging allows consumers to immediately recognize the high quality of the extra-thin sliced and loosely arranged ham slices.
"Gran Biscotto" cooked ham during processing
I also found the additional facts I received about the German market in connection with Rovagnati's expansion interesting. For example, one-third of German households buy cooked ham, pancetta, mortadella, Milanese salami, and/or Parma ham. As one of the leading Italian sausage and ham producers, Rovagnati is expanding its unique selection of over 400 different products to the German market – in addition to 29 other countries. Rovagnati is clearly the number one brand in the cooked ham segment. This expansion is supported in Germany by Reinert, another family-run company.
Step „Removing the mallet“
Key facts and personal conclusion
The company's headquarters are located in Biassono (Milan, Italy). Rovagnati generates a total revenue of €270 million with its products and individual brands (Rovagnati, Gran Biscotto, Snello, Gran Gsuto, and I Firmati). Rovagnati offers four product lines: 1) Ham where the leg is trimmed using the Italian method. This means the cut is made around the bone, leaving the leg intact, as well as the top and bottom rounds and breast visible (Gran Biscotto); 2) A product line of ham prepared using the classic French method, meaning the rind remains attached; 3) Sliced ham for supermarkets; 4) Ham produced in 500-gram pieces (Small Cooked Hams).
Part of the huge logistics center in Villa Bossa (Milan)
I highly recommend trying the ham. The spicy Gran Biscotto, the Parma ham, and the classic salami were my personal favorites. If you've now developed a craving for Gran Biscotto or the rest of their range – I certainly do while writing this – you can pick up the premium cooked ham at the deli counter or in a 100-gram package from the refrigerated section. (A trip to Italy is also an option, of course…) My little trip to Milan and the behind-the-scenes look at Rovagnati gave me the opportunity to experience a premium product from a completely different perspective. I'll definitely be bringing home some Rovagnati products from time to time.
At this point, I would like to extend my sincere thanks once again to the Hamburg agency „impact Agentur für Kommunikation GmbH“, to Rovagnati himself, as well as to Mr. Franz Viehweider and Amedeo Vida for the great tour and the great input.
Tested: Rovagnati – Gran Biscotto Cooked Ham & Gran Gusto Series
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