Valora sells its bookshops in the Swiss canton of Ticino and its Melisa book wholesale business to Ticino-based co-operative "La Pergamena".

Valora’s sale to La Pergamena provides the three bookshops in Lugano, Grancia and Locarno, as well as the Italian-language book wholesaling business, with new opportunities to improve their competitiveness and continue to develop bookselling in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. While the La Pergamena co-operative is already active in the book market, and supports both cultural activities and Italian literature in the Ticino, there was little affinity between Melisa’s full-range bookstores and the Valora Group’s core business.

Management of the bookstores – and their existing staff - will now pass seamlessly over to Federico Nizzola, co-founder and president of La Pergamena.

Valora’s activities in the Ticino will now be focused solely on small-outlet retail, its core business. The current network of some 80 kiosks in Italian-speaking Switzerland constitutes a significant part of Valora Retail, and the division intends to continue developing them. Valora will also continue to operate its press logistics facility at Bedano.

„We are convinced that this sale is the right decision for us and are happy to have found an ideal buyer in La Pergamena. The new owner’s commitment and expertise not only bodes well for Melisa’s future, but also ensures that the requirements of the Ticino region will be appropriately met.” Rolando Benedick, Chairman of Valora’s Board of Directors, commented.