For over forty years, the Apulian cooperative La Cupa has been operating in Scorrano, in the province of Lecce. The cooperative cultivates a wide variety of vegetables on 100 hectares of land. La Cupa's production is entirely dedicated to preserving, creaming, pickling, and dehydrating vegetables, which are offered in various formats for different commercial channels. The company has processing lines dedicated to pickles and olives. Its most popular product is the sun-dried long tomato, which is naturally dried on frames covering 18,000 square meters. The selection also includes other dehydrated vegetables that require high specialization.
© La Cupa Soc. Coop. Agr.
The main focus right now is on the dehydrated tomato campaign. It is one of the brand's most important products. This year's campaign includes a new addition: processing peeled tomatoes. As Gianluca Manfredi, the cooperative's president, pointed out, "One of the innovations for the current campaign is processing peeled tomatoes. We're optimistic about this segment's potential to enhance our existing range of sauce and tomato purée products. We have set up a small processing line that we consider to be in the running-in phase, and we plan to increase production next year with the opening of the new plant."
© La Cupa Soc. Coop. Agr.
The tomato season began on 10 July. The cooperative expects to process about 2,000 tons of fresh tomatoes. Luigi Giangreco, the commercial manager of industrial semi-finished products, made the following observation about the weather conditions: "We started the tomato season on 10 July. We are in the middle of the campaign and expect to process around two thousand tons of fresh tomatoes. We noted that the first week of July was not as hot as in previous years. However, the heat arrived mid-month. Since 22 July, temperatures have been acceptable, reaching 38/39 degrees, so the tomatoes have not suffered. The quality is remarkable, and the yield is good." These factors indicate good product quality and satisfactory yields.
© La Cupa Soc. Coop. Agr.
The portfolio includes traditional Salento products such as Cicorine Salentine, Bocconcini Sfiziosi stuffed with a blend of ten vegetables, stuffed hot peppers, and Cellina di Nardò and Leccino olives. The selection also includes olive, artichoke, and tomato creams, as well as tomato purée (passata) made from Apulian elongated red and yellow tomatoes and organic extra-virgin olive oil. Dried tomatoes are a popular product, with most of the annual production already booked before the campaign begins. Starting next marketing year, state-of-the-art production machinery will enable the cooperative to double its daily processing capacity to 100 tons.
© La Cupa Soc. Coop. Agr.
On the commercial side, the cooperative has noted a slight drop in demand, which it attributes to uncertainty about US tariffs. This uncertainty complicates long-term planning for importers and companies. Foreign markets are competitive and require partnerships with companies that can consistently provide high-quality products.
© La Cupa Soc. Coop. Agr.
The products are distributed through specialized channels, including the catering and restaurant sectors, delicatessens, and small supermarket chains with dedicated sections. Online sales allow products to be sold in various formats, including gift packs. The current commercial strategy focuses on consolidating the foreign gourmet market, which currently accounts for 10% of sales. This market includes Switzerland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, France, and Austria. The new plant's opening is focused on boosting international sales and expanding the range of ready-made sauces with traditional Mediterranean flavors.
For more information:
Gianluca Manfredi 
La Cupa Società Cooperativa Agricola
Via Supersano, 120
73020 Scorrano (LE) - Italy
+39 0836 460630
+39 320 856 2927
[email protected]
www.cooperativalacupa.it