Luigi Morato has passed away at the age of 83. The entrepreneur from Vicenza wrote one of the most significant chapters in Italian food industry history, founding and leading the Morato Pane group. His entrepreneurial journey began in 1970 with a small bakery in Vicenza, right in the heart of the city near Ponte degli Angeli. In 1975, the firm relocated to Porta Padova, where the bakery is still in operation today, headed by his son Alberto. Like this, one of Europe's bakery giants grew from a small artisan bakery. Today, the Morato group generates more than 500 million euros in revenue, with 19 sites in Italy, Spain, and France, 49 active manufacturing lines, and around 1,500 people. Morato Pane is currently the sector's second largest operator in both Italy and Spain, thanks to a planned acquisition strategy that has driven the company's rapid growth in recent years. The first step into large-scale distribution came in 1989 with the launch of industrial product lines like Tenerelle, Bruschelle, and Spuntinelle.  In the following years, more successes emerged with innovations such as the Nuvolatte in 2001 and the American Sandwich in 2003. Acquisitions have been a key driver of the group's growth: since 2009, Morato has absorbed historic brands such as Pan d'Este, Roberto, Modea, Ro.Mar, and La Spiga, the latter specializing in pinsa romana, thereby consolidating its presence on the national territory. Internationally, the company bought M&C Bakery in Spain and Harrys Restauration in France, expanding into the gluten-free market.