The first Italian supermarket opened in Milan in 1957. On the day of the inauguration, Nelson Rockefeller himself was present, founder of the first supermarket chain in Italy, Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A., which was also joined by important national entrepreneurs, such as the Caprotti family. The novelty was immediately appreciated by Milanese customers who rewarded it with great success, so much so that others followed in the 1960s not only in the Lombard capital but also in Tuscany, first in Florence in 1961 and then in Pistoia.

The iconic ‘Supermarket’ sign, featuring the elongated initial S at the top, was designed by the renowned graphic artist Max Huber. From this distinctive sign came the name Esselunga (“long S” in Italian), coined by the customers themselves. They adopted this moniker after an advertising slogan used between 1969 and 1971, which invited them to “Come and spend long 1000 lire at the supermarket with a long S.”

In the late 1970s, Esselunga ventured into the market with its own line of frozen food products, marking the beginning of its foray into product branding. Over time, it broadened its product range to also include fresh produce, turning Esselunga from a mere distributor to a producer of food and consumer goods as well.

Today, Esselunga S.p.A., a subsidiary of the holding company Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A., has a network of more than 170 stores, with supermarkets and hypermarkets, scattered throughout Italy, from Lombardy to Veneto, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Liguria and Lazio, currently employing a staff of around 25,000.

Recently, the Esselunga supermarket in Corsico, a municipality in the Milan metropolitan area, opted for an efficient, energy-saving and up-to-date lighting system: the solution was offered by Square, a stylish spotlight designed by Disano.

The light sources in this luminaire concentrate the best of LED technology to deliver high quality light, ensuring stability and reducing pollutant emissions. The result is exceptional light, capable of providing great visibility that is healthy for the human eye, the merchandise and the supermarket itself. A further advantage is also given by the great reduction in energy costs that only the most advanced LED sources can ensure. This is a fundamental parameter in shopping centres that need artificial light practically all day long.

Aesthetically speaking, Square is small, compact and designed according to the canons of the refined Made in Italy style and quality, seamlessly integrated into its setting.

Strolling through the various departments at the Esselunga shopping centre in Corsico is now a truly enjoyable experience. This transformation is credited to the installation of Disano lights, which offer impeccable visibility, thus fostering a comfortable and healthy environment for shoppers.