An all-Italian engine has been the beating heart of Mediterranean logistics for almost two centuries: Tarros Group is a dynamic and structured company that combines tradition and modernity in the world of container transport. Founded almost 200 years ago, Tarros accompanied the evolution of naval logistics well before the introduction of containers, gradually transforming itself into a point of reference in the intermodal transport sector. Today, the Group boasts 28 companies, 31 ports served, operational offices in Italy (including Genoa, Naples, Venice, and La Spezia, where it is headquartered), agencies throughout the Mediterranean basin, and a staff of 680.
Standing out in the increasingly competitive world of logistics and transport is not easy. Yet some choose to do so by focusing on quality, human relations, and sustainability. In recent years, the Tarros Group has invested heavily in innovation, refrigerated services, and ESG strategies. Corporate Brand Specialist Giulia Masciullo and Area Specialist - Egypt and Reefer Unit Michela Cafarella have talked about it to FreshPlaza.
Left: Giulia Masciullo. Right: Michela Cafarella
"Our objective is to offer a door-to-door service, i.e., to accompany customers from point A to point B, controlling most of the logistics chain. All this through an integrated network that includes ship, truck, and rail transport (CarBox), property terminals (La Spezia), and a constant dialogue between operators and customers. The Tarros approach is characterised by a highly customised service, possible thanks to a deep knowledge of the markets where it operates and the ability to adapt even to geopolitically-complex contexts," explains Masciullo.
"Although it is a term that has been used a lot in recent times, resilience describes the philosophy of our Group very well, as we have managed to face difficulties, even in unstable contexts, while keeping our Italian roots solid and at the same time enhancing the cultural specificities of the countries where we are present. All this even though we are a very small company, as we could indeed say that we are a regional carrier," adds Cafarella.
The added value of Tarros lies in its capillary organisation and direct relationship with its customers. Every shipment is followed carefully, always looking for tailor-made solutions, even in the case of critical issues. "Our customers always have a direct contact person, which is precisely what allows us to offer a superior service. Our company is fully Italian, but enriched by all the cultures we work with," highlights Masciullo.
A Mediterranean identity, but with a global vocation
The Mediterranean is the Group's core business, but the vision is expanding constantly. A concrete example is the new Italy-Spain connection, recently activated within the GPS service, which represents one of the strategic routes for the traffic of refrigerated goods - the so-called reefer traffic that is particularly important in the fruit and vegetable sector. "Each new service arises from a real market need. It may be a commercial demand, infrastructural constraints, a change of partnership, or time optimisation. But, in any case, there is a strategic study behind it and an on-site presence right from the start. We have also done this with the recent opening to Spain. Reefer traffic is highly seasonal, but the constant flow of frozen products is a solid component of our network, especially on routes such as Egypt-Morocco or exports from Portugal. At this time, however, when it comes to Egypt, we are mainly focusing on fresh vegetables, potatoes, oranges, green beans, and artichokes," explains Cafarella.
The connection with Italy - historically a privileged entry point to Europe - has been strengthened with a campaign aimed at positioning Tarros' services as a direct bridge between North Africa and Central Europe.
On 17 March 2025, the MV Vento di Levante welcomed the first maiden call of the Italy-Spain service in Barcelona, which will provide weekly calls at the main Italian ports, guaranteeing a fixed-day, fast and efficient connection to and from Spain. The Salerno, Genoa, La Spezia, Barcelona, Marseille, La Spezia, Genoa, Salerno route will be followed. This new solution is made possible thanks to the collaboration with Insignia Shipping, an international shipping agency that will act as agent for the Tarros group. The strengths of the service are: reduced transit time (Salerno-Barcelona in 4 days, Genoa-Barcelona in 3 days, La Spezia-Barcelona in 2 days), 38% less emissions, green door-to-door infrastructure, and certified quality standards.
Of course, the main competitor on the European market remains road transport, as it often guarantees faster times. However, Tarros boasts a long history behind it that works in its favour: "Our first President was the first European to introduce containers to the Mediterranean. This gives us a unique know-how, which allows us to face challenges with competence and security," recalls Cafarella.
Strict control along the entire cold chain
Quality and safety are everything in the fruit and vegetable sector, and Tarros is well aware of this. "Our containers, both dry and reefer, are subject to constant checks: special cleaning, pre-trip inspection, and 24/7 data tracking systems. We aim to have containers ready when they are loaded to avoid losing time for customers and extra costs for us," explains Masciullo.
One of the secrets of the high-quality service offered by Tarros lies in the direct control of the reefer containers: "Our reefers are managed by highly specialised personnel. We are talking about colleagues who personally select the suppliers we work with. For example, refrigeration technicians are very specialised figures who allow us to intervene promptly in the event of technical faults, which are inevitable when dealing with machines," adds Cafarella.
Not only that. Tarros also invests in the continuous training of its personnel: "We have just completed an internal training course in January designed for salespeople, so that they can be prepared and ready to respond to customer needs." Training does not only focus on the technical side. The real competitive advantage of Tarros is its direct presence in the reference markets: "We have specialised colleagues for each country - Egypt, Greece, Morocco, Portugal - who constantly travel between headquarters and agencies. This allows us to maintain a direct relationship with customers, avoiding the coldness of automated portals typical of large companies," continues Cafarella.
The human element is of essential importance. "We want to maintain an identity made up of direct contacts. Customers of large companies often find themselves talking to chatbots or anonymous portals. We, on the other hand, provide real contacts. For example, I follow the Egyptian market, one of my colleagues follows the Portuguese market, others deal with Greece, Morocco, Turkey, and southern Italy... Our value is to be present and available."
Seasonal flexibility and climate change: The challenges of fresh produce
"The Group keeps records of all the commodities loaded into our containers so we can monitor flows year after year, and adapt to changes. For example, the Egyptian artichoke season, which used to start in November, now starts in January. Increasingly warmer seasons are forcing us to use reefers also for goods that one would not expect: not only foodstuffs, but also medicines and heat-sensitive products."
Constant contact with customers is crucial: "We call them to find out how the season is going for oranges, potatoes... Or, when we know that a cargo is leaving, we contact the port of disembarkation to prepare ourselves. If you know the market, you can anticipate the problems."
ESG: Sustainability as a concrete approach
But perhaps the most innovative turning point is the ESG approach. "We have an in-house ESG department, which is a rare thing in an industry that often relies on external consultants. This has allowed us to do thorough analyses of our issues and of ways to solve them," explains Masciullo.
"For example, we compared data between transport entirely by truck and multimodal transport (ship + truck or train) and recorded a CO2 reduction of over 50%. We are using a vegetable biofuel (HVO) for our trucks: during the first three months of 2025, 25% of the fuel purchased was HVO, which reduces emissions by 80%. 92% of our truck fleet is Euro 6, and almost all of our ships are rated A for environmental impact."
Sustainability also extends to the social aspects: "We are building a new headquarters according to environmental and welfare criteria. And we are among the first Italian companies in the sector to be certified for gender equality," concludes Masciullo.
For more information:
TARROS
LA SPEZIA HEADQUARTER
19126 La Spezia - Italy
+39 0187 5371
www.tarros.it