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Star First Partners, the SF launched by Alessandro Conti in 2023, has completed the acquisition of Olistika, a leading super-premium pet food company in Italy. The transaction was supported by a group of 20 investors, including former CEO Giustino Zollo, who has reinvested in the new vehicle and will hold a 20% stake, as well as Vonzeo Capital, Evolutiq, Till Bossert, Alexander Kirk, Jan Woistschatzke, Nicolas Ruzki, Alessandro Fracassi, Vito Giurazza, Pragma, and the Aquilano family. Senior debt financing was provided by Solution Bank.
Founded in 1988, Olistika is a super-premium pet food operator with strong R&D capabilities, specializing in the production and marketing of dog and cat food. The company is a market leader in Italy in both the dry and wet pet food segments, serving pet shops, clinics, pharmacies, breeders, and end consumers. Through its proprietary brand Vet Line, Olistika is the only operator that integrates DNA-certified phytocomplexes from medicinal herbs into its products. The company has achieved significant and consistent growth over the years, delivering a CAGR of over 15% between 2021 and 2024, and is now distributed in more than 1,000 points of sale across Italy.
Alessandro outlined the strategic rationale behind the investment: strengthening the company’s managerial and corporate structure while accelerating an ambitious growth plan—both organic and through acquisitions—in its core market and adjacent segments. He also aims to expand Olistika’s international footprint and enrich its product portfolio.
Legal: Bird & Bird / DD: KPMG / Commercial DD: OC&C / Tax: Studio CSSF
