OUR STORY
IPER WAS BORN FROM A DREAM
In 1974 Marco Brunelli's hunch took shape. That of making quality accessible to everyone, putting the best Italian food quality in an open and lively place, where people could go and spend time together, shop for groceries, and work – coming together as a community.
That place was Iper Montebello, province of Pavia: it was extraordinary, and it was but the beginning of a rich, multifaceted story. A story that, today, made the red dot on the second I of Finiper Group a reference point in the everyday life of a multitude of people through the vast network of hypermarkets and supermarkets spread out in Northern and Central Italy. The stores embody that original idea and shape it to the specificities of the single areas, transforming it as time goes on, to link past and future with the will of being present, in any moment.
That place was Iper Montebello, province of Pavia: it was extraordinary, and it was but the beginning of a rich, multifaceted story. A story that, today, made the red dot on the second I of Finiper Group a reference point in the everyday life of a multitude of people through the vast network of hypermarkets and supermarkets spread out in Northern and Central Italy. The stores embody that original idea and shape it to the specificities of the single areas, transforming it as time goes on, to link past and future with the will of being present, in any moment.
IPER
1974 - In Montebello della Battaglia (PV) the first Italian hypermarket is founded, and Finiper S.p.A. comes alive, the future financial holding of the group.
1983 - Iper Magenta (MI) opens its doors to become one of the most profitable stores in Europe.
1985 - In Cremona, Finiper opens the first example of galleria retail shopping centre with a hypermarket.
1988 - The Varese hypermarket comes to be, the forerunner of a philosophy that made Iper renowned for its fresh food departments.
1992 - La grande I becomes a key player along the western Adriatic coastline, opening 6 stores in Romagna, Marche and Abruzzo.
1995 - Iper takes over the Castelfranco Veneto hypermarket from Carrefour.
1997 - Finiper transfers 20% of its group equity to Carrefour.
2004 - Milan welcomes Iper Portello, which will be recognised for the role it played in regenerating the neighbourhood.
2010 - Finiper is a 100% Italian group once again.
2013 - Arese and Lainate grant a permit to build the new IL CENTRO shopping centre.
2014 - Finiper moves the Civitanova shopping centre to the new "Il Cuore Adriatico".
2019 - The first Iper superstore "il Maestoso" opens in Monza, with a whole story dedicated to food service. 6 stores on the Adriatic coastline are transferred to Conad.
2020 - The Unieuro by Iper brand is born following an agreement signed with Unieuro.
2021 - The Rom'Antica Brand takes life, and the new Iper in Rozzano opens its doors.
2020 - 23 - New food service outlets open, based on those in the Maestoso in Monza.
2024 - Vera Ristorazione becomes a part of Iper Montebello.
1983 - Iper Magenta (MI) opens its doors to become one of the most profitable stores in Europe.
1985 - In Cremona, Finiper opens the first example of galleria retail shopping centre with a hypermarket.
1988 - The Varese hypermarket comes to be, the forerunner of a philosophy that made Iper renowned for its fresh food departments.
1992 - La grande I becomes a key player along the western Adriatic coastline, opening 6 stores in Romagna, Marche and Abruzzo.
1995 - Iper takes over the Castelfranco Veneto hypermarket from Carrefour.
1997 - Finiper transfers 20% of its group equity to Carrefour.
2004 - Milan welcomes Iper Portello, which will be recognised for the role it played in regenerating the neighbourhood.
2010 - Finiper is a 100% Italian group once again.
2013 - Arese and Lainate grant a permit to build the new IL CENTRO shopping centre.
2014 - Finiper moves the Civitanova shopping centre to the new "Il Cuore Adriatico".
2019 - The first Iper superstore "il Maestoso" opens in Monza, with a whole story dedicated to food service. 6 stores on the Adriatic coastline are transferred to Conad.
2020 - The Unieuro by Iper brand is born following an agreement signed with Unieuro.
2021 - The Rom'Antica Brand takes life, and the new Iper in Rozzano opens its doors.
2020 - 23 - New food service outlets open, based on those in the Maestoso in Monza.
2024 - Vera Ristorazione becomes a part of Iper Montebello.
UNES
1967 - Seven small retailers unite and create Unes in Milan, to address new consumer needs.
2002 - Finiper buys the UNES group.
2007 - U2 supermarket comes to life, the first one in Italy to adopt the Every Day Low Price formula.
2012 - 13 - 14 - U2 Supermarket wins the most affordable Italian supermarket award three years in a row. 2015 - At Christmas, the first il Viaggiator Goloso® Temporary Store opens in via Belfiore, Milan.
2016 - The first il Viaggiator Goloso® store opens its doors in via Belisario, Milan. U2 are the first supermarkets to implement groceries delivery at home via Amazon.
2020 - The Click U2 app is released, opening the doors to online shopping, and in-store pick-up.
2021 - Over Christmas, a Unes x Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo collaboration comes about, with a limited edition saffron panettone by il Viaggiator Goloso®.
2023 - With a rebranding operation, all the U2 Supermercato and U! Come tu mi vuoi are united under the original brand Unes.
2002 - Finiper buys the UNES group.
2007 - U2 supermarket comes to life, the first one in Italy to adopt the Every Day Low Price formula.
2012 - 13 - 14 - U2 Supermarket wins the most affordable Italian supermarket award three years in a row. 2015 - At Christmas, the first il Viaggiator Goloso® Temporary Store opens in via Belfiore, Milan.
2016 - The first il Viaggiator Goloso® store opens its doors in via Belisario, Milan. U2 are the first supermarkets to implement groceries delivery at home via Amazon.
2020 - The Click U2 app is released, opening the doors to online shopping, and in-store pick-up.
2021 - Over Christmas, a Unes x Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo collaboration comes about, with a limited edition saffron panettone by il Viaggiator Goloso®.
2023 - With a rebranding operation, all the U2 Supermercato and U! Come tu mi vuoi are united under the original brand Unes.
THE SHAPE OF THE PRESENT
Today, Finiper group is a vast community of more than 10000 people lead by founder Marco Brunelli, who pours his heart and soul in developing his visionary project together with the group's Board of Directors. He is joined by a large, heterogenous Top Management responsible for strategic management and evolution towards a regenerative paradigm shift – starting from the adoption of an always-updated group Common Code of Ethics implementing the requirements provided for by Legislative Decree 231/2001.
SUSTAINABILITY
We at the Finiper group try to do good for communities and territories, always looking to the future.
