Cosma celebrates 70 years of success and looks to the future
2025 is a historic year for Cosma: the Cassago Brianza-based company celebrates its seventieth anniversary. To mark this important milestone, the Citterio family has chosen to organize an afternoon of celebration and remembrance.
On Friday, September 12, the Via Marconi headquarters welcomed a large audience of guests, including friends, former employees, suppliers, customers, and stakeholders, all gathered to pay homage to the business launched by Onorato Citterio way back in 1955. The anniversary was the perfect opportunity to launch the monograph “Beauty Done Well,” edited by Vera Vaselli and dedicated to seven decades of the company’s history.
The Citterio brothers speak: roots and investments
Brothers Paolo and Luca Citterio welcomed guests. Paolo Citterio recalled the company’s early days: “Our grandfather installed the first handle-making machines in what was once a weaving mill. Since then, the company has expanded, grown, and continues to invest in new equipment. These 70 years aren’t a final milestone, but rather a milestone on a new journey.”
Luca Citterio then outlined the company’s current position and future vision: “Today, we collaborate with leading furniture manufacturers in Italy and around the world, recognized for our ability to adapt quickly to market changes. We export to 70 countries and, despite the challenging times of recent years, we have made sacrifices to maintain our manufacturing vocation. We employ 100 people, 70 of whom are based in Cassago and 30 at the Colonnella plant in Abruzzo. We intend to continue investing in logistics, technology, and sustainability: this is our path for the future of Cosma.”
The importance of the territory and the value of the family
Roberta Marabese, Mayor of Cassago Brianza, also attended the ceremony, expressing her personal connection to the company: “I’m proud to be here today to celebrate such a significant milestone, a special one for me, given that I’m also a family friend,” she said. “As a child, I often played here, and I never imagined I’d be saying, as mayor, ‘Paolo, you and your family made it!’ We have before us people who have combined intelligence and talent with heart.”
Marco Campanari, President of Confindustria Lecco and Sondrio, then spoke, emphasizing the value of the Cosma model: “A corporate history like Cosma’s, steeped in family, business, and local community, gives you goosebumps, in a positive sense. Having reached the third generation is a truly precious characteristic of our country. I am convinced that the family factor is a fundamental value for our businesses; the network of Italian SMEs is an efficient model that has allowed us to overcome complex situations, like the pandemic. Businesses like Cosma create value for themselves, their employees, their families, and the entire community.”
Innovation, design and the monograph
Regional Councilor Gian Mario Fragomeli also spoke, praising the company’s resilience: “Cosma has taken an unpredictable path, facing significant competition, and I’m pleased that its heart remains firmly anchored in Cassago. A company like this has managed to stay on the market partly because it has calibrated itself to the needs of Italian design, which is highly demanding globally. Furthermore, the constant pursuit of technological innovation has made this continuity possible.”
The afternoon continued with the presentation of an honorary plaque by Confindustria Lecco Sondrio to Ersilio Citterio, son of founder Onorato and father of Paolo and Luca, followed by the screening of a film with historical images.
The presentation of the monograph “Beauty Done Well” took place through a conversation between the event’s moderator, Martina Garancini, and author Vera Vaselli. “For me, it was a journey through space and time,” Vaselli began. “In space, because, being Ligurian, I had to understand the dynamics of this region’s development; in time, because we’re talking about over a century ago. Fortunately, I left with an enormous treasure: Giuseppina, Onorato’s daughter, had done an incredible job collecting it. From there, I sought out the people, some of whom are here today. The story was told by those who lived it, including Ersilio, and it was worth putting into writing. This work was done both for those who were there and for those who are not yet here.”
The event concluded with a guided tour of the production facility, allowing attendees to observe the operations and production process up close, followed by an aperitif.
COSMA extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who has shared the excitement of our 70th anniversary with us: from the authorities who honored us with their support, to the media and press for their attention, to the beating heart of our company: our employees and their families. It is thanks to your trust, passion, and commitment that our story continues.