Direct from Italy, a software house specialising in customs compliance for the direct-to-consumer alcohol sales sector, announced the closing of a round with Marvit, the holding company of the Marzotto family branch headed by Stefano Marzotto.
Founded in 2019 by Denis Andolfo and Francesco Prizzon (pictured), the Treviso-based startup immediately dedicated itself to the wine sector, giving pro-bono support to several Italian wineries during the pandemic, helping them to develop e-commerce diversification where sales for traditional channels, as well as wine tourism, were blocked. On the strength of the knowledge gained and having identified a critical issue in allowing producers to freely market their products to international end-consumers, in 2022 the company launched the first direct-to-consumer (DTC) solution with full customs compliance, becoming an absolute benchmark for the industry. Since the end of 2023, the company has achieved financial sustainability, sustaining growth solely from its own revenues.
Today, with a €1 million equity investment, Marvit enters into partnership with Direct from Italy to help accelerate the start-up. The main objective of Direct from Italy is to consolidate its position in Italy and start looking abroad, offering wineries a secure, simple and compliant solution for the direct sale of alcohol to their consumers worldwide.
The Marzotto family, which has been active in the wine sector for a good 90 years with Herita Marzotto Wine Estates, immediately grasped the potential of the Direct from Italy project and its scalability. The entry into the company represents much more than a financial transaction: it is a true strategic partnership, aimed at bringing much-needed innovation to a sector that was struggling to find a functional and compliant solution to develop direct trade with the international private market.
This operation marks a key step for the development potential of the Italian wine sector, offering producers of all sizes the opportunity to sell directly abroad in compliance with international regulations. An opportunity that now becomes accessible to all thanks to innovative technology and a scalable model.
“It is a source of pride and great commitment to collaborate with the Marzotto family, a company that has written the history of Italian entrepreneurship and has been able to innovate with farsightedness,” said Denis Andolfo, founder and administrator of Direct from Italy, in a note. “Their support is a confirmation of the solidity of our business model and our growth potential. This investment will allow us to accelerate technological development, expand our network, and support Italian wineries in opening the direct channel abroad, while at the same time contributing to boosting the wine tourism sector, enhancing the link between producer and consumer”.
“We are always on the lookout for innovative solutions that can significantly improve the way we work,” says Alessandro Marzotto, partner at Marvit. “Having dedicated several years to the development of hospitality services in our estates, I have often come up against the problems associated with shipping our products to foreign consumers who, having fallen in love with our products during their stay in Italy, would like to enjoy a souvenir of the experience once they return home. To date, there was no fully satisfactory solution, either in terms of service or from a legal point of view. In analysing Direct from Italy’s proposal, we found the solution that suited our needs. Denis and Francesco are motivated and passionate professionals, it will be a mutual growth to undertake this journey together”.
The investment will be used to strengthen Direct from Italy’s technology, expand the team, and consolidate its presence in Italy with a focus on internationalisation. With an innovative and rigorous approach to customs and tax regulations, the company aims to become the standard for direct alcohol sales, simplifying operations for companies.
The aim is to make the DTC trade of wines, spirits and beers accessible and secure, breaking down bureaucratic barriers and creating an ecosystem that fosters the growth of wine tourism and world-famous Italian hospitality.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©