Our History

The origins of the group trace back to the entrepreneurial vision of Attilio Monti, who in the post-war years built one of the most dynamic industrial groups in Italy.

Monti developed an integrated energy and logistics ecosystem that included refining, fuel distribution and maritime transport. At the center of this system was SAROM, the refining company based in Ravenna, which became one of the most important private refining groups in Italy, with operations in Ravenna, Milazzo, Gaeta, Volpiano and Porto Marghera.

The group also operated hundreds of fuel stations across the country under the Mach brand, as well as a fleet of oil tankers, including two supertankers of approximately 229,000 tonnes and several turbine tankers of approximately 83,000 tonnes, serving the Mediterranean energy trade.

Alongside energy, Monti expanded into other industrial sectors, including Bipigas in LPG distribution and SIS (Società Italiana Spiriti), active in the spirits and distillery industry.

During the same period the group also held significant interests in the Italian food industry, including Eridania, one of the leading sugar producers in Europe at the time, acquired through Società Industrie Agricole Ligure Lombarda.

Through these activities the Monti group became one of the most diversified industrial organizations in Italy, spanning energy, logistics, food, spirits and consumer products.

Beginning in the 1960s the group gradually expanded into publishing, acquiring newspapers that would become central institutions in their regions.

Titles such as Il Resto del Carlino, La Nazione and Il Giorno formed the core of a publishing group with deep local roots and national relevance. Other titles, including Il Piccolo di Trieste, further expanded the group's editorial reach.

Over time these activities evolved into the modern Monrif Group, consolidating the company's position in media while maintaining a diversified industrial footprint. Advertising operations through SPE/SpeeD and industrial printing through Poligrafici Printing completed the media ecosystem.

The group also developed significant real estate assets, including Torre Galfa in Milan, originally built to house the group's companies, demonstrating an early presence in corporate real estate development.

In the following decades Monrif expanded into hospitality, developing and managing hotels in key Italian cities, and consolidated its real estate portfolio as a long-term strategic asset.

Today Monrif S.p.A. operates as a diversified holding company with activities across media, hospitality, printing and real estate, continuing a long tradition of entrepreneurial development rooted in the Italian real economy.

The group combines a long industrial heritage with a focus on operational efficiency, technological evolution and long-term value creation.