Cooperative Granfrutta Zani was founded in 1972 by Luciano Zani and about one hundred local producers. At first tge co-operative's activity centred on a warehouse in Granarolo Faentino which was succesfully run by Luciano Zani himself, working as a private trader, until 1962.

In a very short time, a remarkable turnover growth resulting from the increasing number of associate producers from all over Italy urged the co-operative to extend its activities to other warehouses in S. Alberto in Ravenna e Filo d'Alfonsine.

This decision was taken to meet product processing and preservation needs. In 1992 the co-operative purchased its first plant in S. Andrea di Faenza, originally covering 40,000 m_, including 12,000 of floor area.

Ten years later, the total area was extended to 80,000 m_, of which 26,000 indoors. Suchh an enlargement was celebrated in September 2002. Seven years earlier, in 1995, another plant had been purchased in Bagnacavallo, covering 130,000 m_, including 25,000 indoors.

In 1996 Granfrutta Zani was officially recognized as a "Producers' Organization" and achieved a certification guaranteeing the full compliance of its products and production system with the stringent EEC legislation. The co-operative's products also carry the "QC" label, granted by the Region Emilia-Romagna to companies complying with a number of specific rules related to cultivation, harvest and processing.