The Experience of Global MBA Students at Acetum: A Journey into Excellence
8 October 2024The company visit of the Global MBA students at Bologna Business School to Acetum offered an in-depth overview of the Italian food and beverage industry.
The company, a leader in balsamic vinegar production, demonstrated the importance of Italian excellence and quality through the care and attention to detail in every phase of their production process.
Noah Zacharie Carrenca, one of the participating students, found the production process related to DOP/PDO and IGP certifications particularly interesting. “The scale of Acetum’s production is impressive,” Noah explained, “but the opportunity to get a closer look at the process behind DOP/PDO certified products, directly from one of the largest European producers, was the most significant aspect.”
The students had the opportunity to speak with members of Acetum’s team. Carrenca had an in-depth conversation with Nicolò, Key Account Manager for North America, focusing on the company’s approach to international markets. “Coming from a background in marketing and sales, I was interested in their strategy to educate international markets, especially the North American one, about the quality of their DOP/PDO products,” Noah commented.
One aspect of Acetum’s business model that surprised many students was the amount of product destined for white-labeling. “It was surprising to learn that a large portion of their production doesn’t carry the Acetum name on the bottles they ship,” Noah added.
For the Global MBA students, company visits represent an opportunity to better understand business dynamics and apply the theory learned in class. “Company visits are an important part of our MBA education,” Noah reflected. “They give us the chance to ask questions and engage with professionals in industries and positions we aspire to work in. These experiences allow us to explore what makes a company successful and how we can apply what we learn to our future careers.”
