Strengthening internationalisation, improving cost efficiency, simplifying the corporate structure, and stepping up institutional partnerships have all benefited Veronafiere. The Verona-based company closed 2024 with what is, in financial terms, its best-ever year. Turnover reached €125.5 million (+€5 million), EBITDA €25.8 million (+€3.5 million), and profits €9.5 million – a 150% increase on the €3.5 million profit reported in 2023. A full 90% of the Group’s revenue derives from proprietary events such as Vinitaly, Fieragricola, Marmomac, Samoter, Fieracavalli and Progetto Fuoco.
The 2024 results, which include an increase in shareholders’ equity and a drop in financial debt (from €17.9 million to €6.4 million), were approved at the shareholders’ meeting held on Monday 5 May and, from a strategic standpoint, confirm the relaunch of the trade fair business and the effectiveness of the One Veronafiere 2024–2026 Plan.
Bricolo confirmed, and a female-majority board
Federico Bricolo was unanimously confirmed as Chairman of Veronafiere for the 2025–2028 term. The newly appointed board of directors, two-thirds renewed, now has a female majority, with 4 out of 7 members being women. Board members include: Romano Artoni, outgoing Vice Chairman and financial manager; Marina Montedoro, new Vice Chairwoman and director of Coldiretti Veneto; Barbara Ferro, expert in strategic planning, financial-economic management and organisation; Désirée Zucchi, cultural entrepreneur and business trainer; Silvia Nicolis, President of the Nicolis Museum; Alfonso Sonato, chartered accountant and statutory auditor.
Calendar of events
Veronafiere’s 2024 featured a packed schedule of events: 45 in total, with 35 held in Italy and 10 abroad (in Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, Serbia, and the USA). The Verona exhibition centre alone welcomed 861,090 visitors and 11,867 exhibitors, over an exhibition area of 623,272 square metres. The convention business hosted 342 events, drawing a total of 62,900 attendees.
Across the 2022–2024 period, standout events include the 2023 edition of Fieragricola, with 140,000 visitors; Vinitaly 2024, which saw 97,000 attendees and an increase in foreign operators from 140 countries; the 126th Fieracavalli, with over 2,200 horses and 700 exhibitors from 25 countries; and Marmomac 2024, with 1,485 exhibitors from 55 nations and 50,000 visitors, 66% of whom were from abroad.
International focus and the first Vinitaly in the USA
“2024 gave fresh momentum to the international projection of Veronafiere and its brands,” said Chairman Bricolo, noting that October saw the debut of Vinitaly.USA in Chicago, in collaboration with ICE and Gambero Rosso (which presented the best wines in its 2025 Guide). At the same time, a new venture launched in South America with the transformation of the historic Vitória Stone Fair into Marmomac Brazil, held in São Paulo.
Single management approach and financial turnaround over three years
Managing Director Adolfo Rebughini highlighted the goals of the strategic plan: “To bring all the Group’s companies, from set-ups to international operations, under a single management framework, creating added value in terms of revenue and market know-how related to the sectors we represent.”
From a financial perspective, as outgoing CEO Maurizio Danese pointed out, the mandate began in 2022 with a complex balance sheet situation and closed in 2024 with the Group’s full financial recovery: from a consolidated loss of €6.1 million in 2022 to a profit of €3.9 million in 2023, alongside an 11.9% growth in revenues and a 26.2% increase in gross margin. “2024 further confirmed this trajectory.”
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