It is a highly prestigious appointment embracing the entire range of target markets of the exhibition and continues the tradition of having a key figure from the represented industries as head of the event, as Alberto Bauli in 2009 and Paolo Barilla in 2012.

Mr Pedroni’s chairmanship has strong implications emphasizing Ipack-Ima’s synergy with the Expo 2015 as the two events are going to be held together. COOP Italia is in fact partner of the Expo in the thematic exhibition hall called “Supermarket for the future”.

"I am well acquainted with Ipack-Ima and I am honoured to accept its chairmanship – says Marco Pedroni -: my field of interest, large-scale distribution, has always been committed to establishing a constructive relationship with manufacturing, and packaging in particular. As a representative of COOP, I also feel particularly strongly about the issue of 'Sustainable Packaging for Development' which Ipack-Ima will develop in partnership with the Expo – says Mr Pedroni -. We have been working on projects designed to reduce the environmental impact of our packages since many years, according to the Reduce-Recycle-Reuse policy".

The synergy between large-scale distribution and Ipack-Ima’s target industries could not have found a better setting or combination of events: the 2015 edition of the exhibition, the joint shows Fruitech Innovation, Converflex, Grafitalia and Intralogistica Italia held on the same dates, the "supermarket for the future" event by COOP, all taking place on the great and renowned stage of the international Expo. 

"Marco Pedroni is the representative par excellence of all the stakeholders of our exhibition - says Guido Corbella, CEO of Ipack-Ima Spa -. It’s the first time that a key figure from large-scale distribution holds the chairmanship of Ipack-Ima. COOP Italia shares our vision and many of our projects such as technological innovation, sustainability and the value communicated by packaging on the store shelf. This proves the increasingly intensive and important relationship that is developing between retailers and the packaging industry".