The Start of a Career in Retail
After retiring from football, Antonio Percassi met Luciano Benetton and opened his first Benetton store in 1977, launching an entrepreneurial journey that expanded the United Colors of Benetton, Zerododici, Sisley, and Playlife brands across Italy and abroad.
The arrival of fast food in Italy
After Milan, Percassi opens Burghy in Bergamo, Italy’s first fast-food chain: a landmark event for Bergamo’s generation growing up in the 1980s. The brand, founded by the GS supermarket chain, achieved huge success throughout Italy and was acquired by McDonald’s in the 1990s.
Sport: a passion that never fades
The Percassi Group enters the sports sector with the acquisition of Goggi Sport, opening more than 40 locations across Italy.
The brand was later sold to the Cisalfa Group in 1994.
An increasingly… assertive company.
A partnership with Swatch was launched, followed by the opening of numerous stores across Italy. The store on Via Montenapoleone in Milan proved a huge success.
KIKO’s insight
Following an idea from his father Antonio, Stefano Percassi created an original cosmetics brand: KIKO Milano, which went on to become one of the sector’s leading players. In the beauty sector, Percassi also operates through Madina – founded in 1993 and acquired in 2012 – Womo and Bullfrog.
One of Europe’s largest shopping centres is set to open
Oriocenter, the company’s first major commercial real estate project, opened on 24 November. Almost 30 years on, it remains one of the largest shopping centres in Europe, thanks to a third expansion inaugurated in 2017.
Zara’s arrival in Italy
A joint venture is launched with Amancio Ortega’s Inditex Group, which, thanks to Percassi, enters the Italian market with the Zara brand. Subsequently, further Zara and Zara Home stores open, alongside outlets for the Inditex Group’s other brands (Massimo Dutti, Oysho, Pull&Bear, Bershka, Stradivarius).
Conquering the big brands
Since 2002, the company’s presence in the retail sector has expanded further with the addition of Nike, Levi’s, Calvin Klein and Guess, as well as luxury brands such as Gucci, Ferrari, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren. In 2007, a joint venture was launched with Flavio Briatore to develop Billionaire Italian Couture, which was subsequently acquired by Philip Plein in 2021.
Atalanta: a return to a long-standing love
Antonio Percassi has been appointed to a second term as President of Atalanta, with his son Luca named Chief Executive Officer. In February 2022, Percassi entered into a partnership with a group of investors led by Stephen Pagliuca – managing partner and co-owner of the Boston Celtics, as well as co-chairman of Bain Capital – to co-invest in Atalanta.
The world of useful and hard-to-find ideas
In the early 2000s, the company began investing in the Dmail Group, Italy’s leading catalogue and online mail-order retailer. In 2016, it acquired Dmail, developing standalone stores across Italy and consolidating its e-commerce channel. The brand was sold to the Kasanova Group in 2023.
Collaborations are flourishing
Since 2016, major partnership agreements have been signed with Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Starbucks and Lego. Furthermore, thanks to the joint venture with Chef Express – established through a collaboration with the Cremonini Group – Wagamama International, Casa Maioli and Caio stores have opened.
The agreement with Armani
In 2018, an agreement was signed with Armani for the Armani Exchange brand, a youth label launched in 1991 by Giorgio Armani in the United States. This marked the start of the fashion brand’s store openings in Italy.
Percassi: “opens his eyes” to Oakley
As part of its partnership with Luxottica, Percassi is opening an Oakley flagship store in May. Located in Piazza San Babila in Milan, the store offers an immersive experience in the world of the famous eyewear brand.
