When in 2017 the crisis of the textile hub also arrived on the big screen – with the feature film “Sfashion” – many thought it was the de profundis of the local economy. Today, the province of Teramo remains within the complex industrial crisis area “Val Vibrata – Valle del Tronto – Piceno”, but it is – surprisingly – also among the provinces with the fastest growing companies, according to a Luiss study (see IlSole24ore of August 13).
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The Luiss Report and the reasons for growth
The reasons? «First of all diversification», analyzes the president of Confindustria Abruzzo Medio Adriatico, Lorenzo Dattoli. The plurality of sectors makes the productive fabric resilient. Crises have bent it, but «never broken it precisely because of its variety». Those who resist the storm, strengthen. And grow. Thus the province – with 34,733 registered companies and a turnover of 1.321 billion, calculated by Mediobanca for medium-sized companies, proves to be «lively»: first in the Region for value added growth in the last five years (+2.8% according to Cna), contributing 1.8 billion to Abruzzo’s export in 2025, having been «the second Region in the first quarter of 2026 – recalls the industrial leader – for foreign trade after Tuscany».
From licorice to oil plants
From a land that already smells of the sea, but is not at all easy to reach, come the licorice sticks for ice creams around the world; from here specialists capable of training those who must work in oil wells depart for Morocco, the Middle East or Mexico; here clinical reagents destined for 150 countries are developed, in addition to more traditional productions.
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This spring in Teramo is contributed to by «the Zes, special economic zone; the Pnrr; Industry 4.0 and 5.0, as well as other regional aids», acknowledges Dattoli, aware «that without good entrepreneurs, every aid would be lost». The insights of past pioneers are combined with the innovations of today’s managers, ensuring «fluid transfers from one generation to another, one of the most critical moments in the history of companies».
Family businesses for generations
Barberini, founded in ’63 and acquired by Luxottica; Cordivari from ’72, hydrothermal sector; Aran kitchens, three generations; four for Maglificio Gran Sasso. Menozzi-De Rosa in Atri boasts 180 years of life. «In a niche sector, like licorice, we are growing also thanks to technological innovation, more sustainability and increasing export through diversification and large-scale distribution», summarizes Angelo Menozzi, CEO of the family company, with an average turnover of 6 million. A further boost came from investments, favored by the Transition 5.0 plan, to «buy dryers and electronic cutters, which allow producing more and consuming less». Their factory is outside the Zes, which includes 14 Abruzzo municipalities.
