Supermarket chain Coop Alleanza 3.0 is born

(ANSA) - Milan, October 2 - Three supermarket chains merged Friday to form Coop Alleanza 3.0 (Alliance Cooperative 3.0). The merging partners are Coop Adriatica, Coop Estense and Coop Consumatori Nordest (Northeast Consumers Cooperative). Their merger brings the supermarket cooperative chain to a total of 2.7 million members, five billion euros in turnover, 419 outlets including 56 hypermarkets, and over 22,000 employees.
    The new retail giant extends from Italy's extreme northern Trentino region to Sicily in the south.
    Unipol insurance and banking group holds just over 20% in direct and indirect shares.