Fiocchi Munizioni: 150 Years of Italian Precision and Global Expansion
From a family business on the shores of Lake Como to the largest manufacturer of small-caliber ammunition in the Western world—this is the journey of Fiocchi Munizioni, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The anniversary symbolizes extraordinary continuity, technical courage, and the ability to survive in dramatically changing political and economic conditions.
Video: Fiocchi Munizioni: 150 years of Italian precision and global growth / DEFENSE MAGAZINE
The history of Fiocchi Munizioni began on July 3, 1876, in Lecco, northern Italy, when Giulio Fiocchi took over the Micheloni & C. company, which was in liquidation. Originally an accountant from Milan, this passionate hunter and technical visionary recognized the extraordinary growth potential in the field of ammunition production. A decision that may have seemed risky at the time proved to be strategically far-sighted in retrospect. Under the leadership of its founder and subsequently five generations of the Fiocchi family, the company gradually transformed itself from a local manufacturer into an industrial enterprise with an international reach. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Fiocchi was already relying on its own development, patents, and technological innovations—such as the patented brass primers from 1880, which laid the foundations for the brand's long-standing technical reputation.
Continuous innovation is one of the main pillars of Fiocchi's corporate identity. The company has long developed its own production technologies, often modifying standard machines according to the requirements of its engineers and investing in new material solutions. The transition from paper shotgun shells to plastic ones at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s is one example of a decision that was initially controversial but later proved to be crucial.
Another significant milestone was the introduction of lead-free "Zero Pollution" primers in 1985 – a technological solution that was ahead of its time and today meets the growing environmental requirements of sport and hunting shooting. A lesser-known but all the more interesting chapter in the company's history is its industrial diversification: from 1903 to 1991, Fiocchi manufactured press studs, making effective use of waste brass material from cartridge production. This approach illustrates the technical ingenuity and economic efficiency that has characterized the company throughout its existence.
As Costantino Fiocchi, Technical Director of the Fiocchi Group, says: "Technology and production are our secret ingredients." The anniversary year is not just about taking stock, but also about remembering what sets Fiocchi apart in its daily practice. Costantino Fiocchi repeatedly emphasizes that the company has long been built on a combination of family know-how, its own technical school, and industrial discipline, which allows it to maintain quality even in times of turbulence. "Fiocchi is a global company.
It is important for us to preserve Italian heritage and history and strategically combine it with a global approach. The CSG Group is an extremely important partner for us in this regard, as is the Ammo+ division for continuing our growth path," says Costantino Fiocchi. "Key countries for us are located all over the world, in Europe, America, and Australia. However, a fundamental change in recent years has been the growth of the defense market – and that is why it is strategically right to be part of a strong, globally active defense group," adds Fiocchi.
And what are the main strategic challenges facing Fiocchi's new management in the coming years? "We have three main goals. The first is to leverage our 150-year heritage and the vast experience we have right here—that's our strategic advantage in development and investment. The second goal is to continue our growth trajectory and become a truly global player. The CSG background provides us with support in investments, development, and overcoming raw material shortages—and allows us to be faster than the competition. The third point is operational reality: raw material prices are rising and customers expect availability at a good price. We will address this through operational excellence – lean processes, automation, and smart investments," says Costantino Fiocchi.
The defense sector has grown dramatically in recent years, so it is necessary to respond appropriately to new influences. "We are responding with investments to meet the demand for accurate, high-quality, and cost-effective ammunition," explains Costantino Fiocchi, continuing: "We rely on clear focus, lean management, and a lean management approach. It is equally important to be in close contact with customers—with governments and military buyers, but also with the civilian market. For hunting and sports, products must be available in high quality and at a reasonable price over the long term." The key for the company is to maintain a balance between family heritage and modern corporate management. "This is an extremely important point, but these two things are not contradictory. They are heading in the same direction. It is about preserving the heritage, history, and values of a family business while combining them with clear processes, clear decision-making, clear leadership, and global management," concludes Costantino Fiocchi.
Both world wars were major tests for the company. While World War I meant a sharp increase in production, during World War II the original factory in Lecco was completely destroyed by bombing. The subsequent reconstruction and gradual relocation of production outside the city center, completed in 1968, opened a new chapter in post-war development.
After the end of the conflict, Fiocchi faced a major challenge: transforming its wartime production for the civilian and sporting markets. It was then that the company began to systematically focus on foreign markets – first in South America and the Far East, and later primarily in the United States. The establishment of an American branch in 1983 marked a strategic breakthrough, making the US the group's main market today.
Fiocchi Munizioni currently employs more than 1,300 people and has production facilities in Italy, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The historic headquarters in Belleddu near Lecco is complemented by a plant in Marano di Castenaso near Bologna, where Baschieri & Pellagri also operates. In the US, Fiocchi has plants in Ozark (Missouri) and Little Rock (Arkansas), and in the UK in Lichfield, home to the traditional Lyalvale Express brand. In terms of its portfolio, Fiocchi covers three key segments: sport shooting and competitions, hunting, and defense and security. In the field of sports, it is a long-term partner of Olympic champions and international federations in disciplines such as biathlon, trap, and skeet. In the hunting segment, it profiles itself as a leader in the premium market with an emphasis on performance and environmental sustainability. The defense and security segment is one of the fastest growing, thanks in part to the qualification of products according to NATO standards.
A crucial chapter in the company's recent history began in 2022, when Fiocchi became part of the CSG group. In April 2025, the acquisition of 100% of Fiocchi's capital was completed, creating one of the most significant industrial partnerships in the defense sector in recent years. Thanks to this integration and the previous acquisitions of Baschieri & Pellagri and Lyalvale Express, Fiocchi is now the only group in the world with a fully vertically integrated platform in the hunting and sporting ammunition segment. The group led by Michal Strnad has thus become the largest manufacturer of small-caliber ammunition in the Western world. Costantino Fiocchi assessed the connection to the CSG holding company: "I think joining the CSG group was very important because it is essential to be part of the global world. CSG thinks on a larger scale than we did before. This has helped us with investments in developed markets. And we are very happy to have met the CSG group. Now, with the acquisition of American companies, we see great scope for synergies and great opportunities," says Technical Fiocchi Group Director Costantino Fiocchi.
All these factors will come together at the upcoming 25th Winter Olympic Games in Milan–Cortina 2026, which will include biathlon competitions in Antholz. These are of particular importance to Fiocchi, not only because they will take place on home soil, but also because this is where industrial know-how meets the absolute pinnacle of top-level sport. Fiocchi has long profiled itself as a technological partner to elite athletes, not just as a supplier. Cooperation with national teams and individual top athletes is based on intensive technical support, data sharing, and direct feedback. Olympic disciplines have another fundamental dimension for Fiocchi—they are an irreplaceable tool for development. Top athletes act as the most sensitive "sensors" of the quality, stability, and consistency of ammunition. "Sport is a real testing ground for us. If we want to test new compositions or modifications to ammunition—whether it's .22 Long Rifle small-caliber cartridges or shotgun shells—we first test them with athletes and collect their feedback," explains Alessandra Selva, the company's marketing director.
From a marketing perspective, the Olympics are undoubtedly a powerful platform. However, Fiocchi emphasizes that its significance goes much further. "Of course, there are many ways to use the Olympic Games for marketing purposes. But for us, what sports symbolize is more important—passion, determination, and the daily work that goes into success," says Selva.
On the occasion of its 150th anniversary, the company published an official corporate monograph that maps not only its technical and commercial development, but above all the values on which Fiocchi is based: family continuity, technical excellence, and the courage to invest in the future. As the current management has stated, the goal is not only to take stock of the past, but to lay a solid foundation for the next decade—with the ambition that Fiocchi will remain a key player in the global ammunition industry for the next 150 years.
