A commitment renewed: people at the heart of our inclusion journey
28 January 2026
The start of a new year, as always, is a time of expectations, reflection and questions. For us, it is also a valuable opportunity to look back on the path we have taken and the choices we have made, while looking ahead with enthusiasm and a desire to keep working.
The inclusion of people, in all its forms, remains an integral part of our corporate culture and continues to guide the way we design our work, spaces and relationships. With this perspective in mind, we are pleased to gather and share here our Group's most recent initiatives dedicated specifically to the themes of disability and inclusion. These actions, projects and stories reflect how we look to the future: working to build a community where everyone feels valued and empowered to express their full potential.
INCLUSIVE SPACES IN OUR BITE
“When we talk about inclusion, we often think about behaviours, relationships and culture. But there is an equally essential element: space.” With these words, Dynamo Academy described the collaboration that led to the creation of our new Research and Development Centre. And it was precisely from this shared awareness that we envisioned and designed our BITE, which was inaugurated last November.
The result is an accessible and welcoming space, where everyone can connect and interact harmoniously with the work environment. From its inception, BITE has incorporated sustainability and inclusion principles: from the use of renewable energy sources to the creation of outdoor areas dedicated to research in regenerative agriculture, and from concrete accessibility solutions, such as tactile pathways for people with visual impairments, to modular furnishings and elevators serving every staircase.
As mentioned, the creation of BITE was also made possible thanks to the support of Dynamo Academy, the social enterprise with which we have been engaged in an inspiring journey since 2022 to explore and promote inclusion. This year, moreover, for the fourth consecutive year, we have continued to support Dynamo Camp through financial contributions, product donations and volunteer activities.
PASTAUT: WHEN WORK BECOMES AN OPPORTUNITY
Italian food lovers might say that it's a short step from pizza to pasta. It is no coincidence, then, that we are ready to open a new chapter in our collaboration with PizzAut, an organisation with which we share the conviction that inclusion also, and above all, includes employment. As a reminder, PizzAut is the project founded by Nico Acampora to create employment and social inclusion opportunities for autistic young people.
To mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we therefore announced the PastAut initiative: starting in 2026, PizzAut restaurants will introduce recipes featuring pasta, a key element in training and professional development. Thanks to the donation of dedicated equipment and a mentoring programme led by chefs from our Academia Barilla, the young men and women at PizzAut will have the opportunity to acquire new skills in the preparation and service of pasta dishes, opening the door to new opportunities in the catering industry.
And there is more: at the end of last year, a young man with autism officially joined the PizzAut team, with an employment contract issued and signed by our Group. This marks the natural evolution of a collaboration rooted in passion, one that began some time ago and has grown year after year through the sharing of skills and a joint commitment to turning food into an opportunity for independence, dignity and a future.
FROM LISTENING TO ACTION
Giving space to people, their stories and their talents, is a goal we are committed to pursuing through our ongoing dedication to inclusion. To mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, celebrated on 3rd December, our ThisAbility ERG promoted “From Listening to Action”, an open discussion and dialogue held in the BITE spaces and attended by our Vice-Chairman, Luca Barilla.
The event focused on authentic personal experiences, bringing together a rich mix of testimonies, projects and perspectives, reinforcing a culture of inclusion which, for us, begins with listening and translates into tangible action. During the event, the powerful stories of determination and resilience shared by Daniele Cassioli, Paralympic champion and trainer, and Giulia Ghiretti, Paralympic champion, were woven together with the voices of our colleagues in Italy and abroad, as well as the experiences of several partner organisations, including Dynamo Camp, Fondazione Bullone, Sky Italia and Reale Mutua Assicurazioni. All of this served as a reminder that sharing vulnerability can create strength and connection, deepening relationships and fostering greater collective awareness.
A FORWARD-LOOKING COMMITMENT
All the initiatives outlined so far reflect our Group’s multifaceted commitment, which has evolved over time and taken different forms, while remaining guided by a single purpose. We continue to foster a culture of inclusion, including through our participation in The Valuable 500, the global movement that encourages companies to place disability at the heart of their leadership agendas. This journey enables us not only to amplify our impact, but also to connect with other organisations that share the same sense of responsibility and urgency to drive change.
Over the years, our actions and projects have earned us meaningful recognition. In 2018, Disability Matters Europe awarded us the STEP-TO-SUCCESS Award for the Hackability@Barilla project, an example of how technology can be used to address the needs of people with disabilities in tangible ways. In 2023, the Areté award for Internal Communication recognised the work of our ThisAbility ERG.
All of these are important signs: not a final destination, but a confirmation of the path we have chosen to take. For us, inclusion is not a one-time achievement, but an ongoing journey that guides us toward the future we are building, one we are already moving toward, and one we want to continue experiencing and inhabiting together with all of you, day after day.
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