Casalasco steps into basil pesto with JBT Marel partnership

“Two years ago, we decided to invest in the basil supply chain to meet the need for crop rotation of our farmers, as well as the need of our customers,” said Andrea Scazza, Operations Director, Casalasco.

Market demand for basil-based products including traditional pesto and more experimental recipes is growing. The forecast growth for 2025 – 2035 is 7.51 % CAGR, driven by consumer preferences for Italian and Mediterranean cuisines in the US and Asian, as well as consistent increase across traditional European markets. With Casalasco’s existing reputation and global market reach, the expansion into basil-based products felt like a natural opportunity for growth.

Wanting to maintain their reputation for high-quality 100 % Italian products, the Casalasco team recognized they needed an experienced partner with the ability to help develop the right processing line to step into the basil-based semi-finished market with confidence.

The right location

Northern Italy is one of the world’s largest basil cultivation regions. The Casalasco plant in Parma was the ideal location to locate the new basil processing lines as it allowed direct access to the freshest product. “To distinguish ourselves from the competition, we had to create a product that respected the quality of the fresh product,” said Andrea.

Casalasco knew JBT Marel had already supplied similar pesto-processing solutions to other processors and could provide the expertise and experience Casalasco needed. They reached out to JBT Marel to design a processing line that addressed two main challenges. Production that would keep fresh basil’s characteristic color consistent through each batch, and a flexible system that would manage a variety of recipes for semi-finished basil products for different customers.

The technology

Designing a system from scratch is more than choosing the best technology. The advantage of choosing JBT Marel as a technology partner meant Casalasco had access to a global knowledge base, with multiple engineers and specialized technologists who understood the industry and its challenges and could align technology to solve them.

The first step of designing the new line was to listen to the Casalasco’s goals and needs. “At this initial phase we worked together to understand what the real problem is. What’s driving our customer to make an investment.” said Jacopo Montali, Sales Director F&V EMEA, JBT Marel. Step by step, during these consultations, we customized a system that met their needs. “Working with Casalasco, we started with a simple idea and adapted it with different options to create the final product.”

The basil challenge

Basil is a delicate plant, and to produce an end-product that keeps the fresh-green color that consumers expect, it should be harvested and processed to its finished product within a few hours.

Casalasco’s new line combines standard equipment such as tanks and mixing systems, with high technology equipment key to addressing the specific challenges of pesto production—JBT Marel’s Sterideal® Ohmic and Aseptic Filler.

Effective sterilization is a critical part of producing safe food for consumers. The challenge with basil-based products is its extreme sensitive to heat, turning brown, and losing its fresh appearance, aroma, and flavor the longer it is exposed. Conventional thermal sterilization systems that expose product to heat for long periods may have met food safety standards, but it wasn’t going to maintain the quality of the basil Casalasco needed.

By bringing product to the required sterilization temperature quickly and then cooling rapidly, the Sterideal® Ohmic reduces the basil-product exposure to heat, helping preserve its color and organoleptic characteristics. The pesto moves from the Sterideal® Ohmic to the Aseptic Filler, which fills pre-sterilized bags. “The relationship we have with JBT Marel has allowed us to develop a product in their laboratories specific to Casalasco, and then repeat and replicate it here in our factory,” said Andrea.

Casalasco’s basil production factory opened in early 2026, with the line successfully expanding their product portfolio into semi-finished basil products and pesto. We’re excited to support them as they continue to build their international reputation for quality.

About Casalasco

Casalasco is the largest integrated tomato supply chain in Italy and Europe. With hundreds of farms and five production plants they cultivate, transform, package and dispatch 100 % Italian tomato sauces, condiments and other tomato products to Italian and international tables.