Italian industry pioneer Antonio Biancheri dies at 96

Antonio Biancheri and his son Alberto.

CAMPOROSSO, Italy: Antonio Biancheri, a horticulture pioneer and entrepreneur, has died. He was 96.

It is with a heavy heart that our correspondent in Italy, Arturo Croci, shares the news of the passing of one of the icons within Italy’s horticulture industry.

Immediately after the Second World War, Antonio Biancheri took over the business from his father, Duilio. He began growing rose, switching to several other ornamental crops later. He built the Biancheri Creazioni brand from the ground up with a passion for breeding flowers with unusual shapes and bold colours.

Biancheri quickly evolved into what it is today; an all-encompassing player in Ranunculus and Anemone with a focus on successful series such as Pon Pon, Elegance, Festival, and Mistral. Biancheri made also a name for its Ranunculus from tissue culture.

Antonio is survived by his children Alberto (appointed in 2014 as Mayor of Sanremo) and Patrizia and his grandchildren Giulia, Chiara, e Viola. He was laid to rest on 30 March at San Siro’s cathedral.