Natuzzi opens own Brazil plant to serve U.S.
By Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, December 3, 2001
SALVADOR DE BAHIA, Brazil — Group Natuzzi last week officially opened its own production facility here.
The 193,750-square-foot plant will make leather seating under Natuzzi's Italsofa promotional brand, to be distributed to customers on the U.S. East Coast. The new factory is expected to employ 400 people and reach a maximum capacity of 600 seats per day.
Johne Albanese, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Natuzzi Americas, said the company had been operating out of temporary quarters in Brazil for about six months.
The project was launched in November 2000, when 170 Brazilians began training to become leather cutters, seamstresses, assemblers and carpenters. Specialists from Natuzzi's Italian factories conducted the training.
"We are proud to have the new factory up and running in record time," said Pasquale Natuzzi, chairman and chief executive officer of Group Natuzzi. "This plant gives Natuzzi a strategic presence in one of the major leather and wood producing countries in the world."
The plant, which represents about a $10 million investment, advances Natuzzi's plans to expand global manufacturing capacity.
