The annual Henokiens Congress took place from 17 June 2026 to 21 June 2026 in Italy in three different places: Milan- Gardone Val Trompia - Modena.

It saw the following highlights : 

CELEBRATION OF 500th ANNIVERSARY OF FABBRICA D’ARMI PIETRO BERETTA

Pietro Gussalli Beretta wished to celebrate this unique milestone, marking the 500th anniversary of the founding of his company together with his family and the members of the Association. In a speech addressed to the Henokiens, he retraced the history of his company and its evolution through the strategic developments undertaken over the centuries which have enabled it to become a global group today. He also emphasized both the vital role that family businesses play in the economy and the significance that the Henokiens Association has held for him and his family since they joined it in its earliest days.

HENOKIENS ASSOCIATION GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Annual General Meeting of the Henokiens Association took place on  18 June in Gardone Val Trompia at Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta bringing together 125 participants representing 10 countries.

Key points :

GREETINGS OF THE HENOKIENS TO THE BERETTA FAMILY

The President of the Association, Julian von Möller, expresses on behalf of the Henokiens, the immense honor, genuine pleasure, and sincere gratitude felt by all members for the exceptional hospitality they are enjoying today on the occasion of the celebration of Beretta’s 500th anniversary. For Julian von Möller, the Henokiens have the privilege of being welcomed into the heart of a family history spanning twenty generations and a heritage, one that belongs not only to the Beretta family but also to the entire community of enduring family-owned businesses. The President congratulated the company on reaching this magnificent milestone and expressed the hope that future generations will continue to write this extraordinary story with the same courage, the same vision, the same dedication, the respect for heritage, the commitment to excellence, care for people, and the confidence in the future that have characterized the Beretta family for the past 500 years.

HENOKIENS PRESIDENT SPEECH

President von Möller wished to express his sincere thanks to Alberto Marenghi and Pietro Gussalli Beretta for organizing the ceremony for the presentation of the 15th Leonardo da Vinci Award to the Italian compay Mapei, held the previous evening at the prestigious National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan and Claudio Stefani Giusti for the program of activities arranged for the members in Modena. He also thank the members for attending the Congress in such large numbers, with special recognition for those who had travelled from Japan. He expressed his pleasure at seeing so many Next Generation members in attendance. He then introduced to the Assembly the members who have joined him since the beginning of his term to form the Association’s Board: Christoph Köchert, Jean-Conrad Hottinguer, Nicolas Mirabaud, Anne-Sophie Catherineau, Chikako Kurokawa, Alberto Marenghi, Piero Luxardo, Giuseppe Rizzardi, Guiral de Montclos and Quiterie de Montclos, representing the Next Generation. He informed the Assembly that the Board had already begun work on important matters, including the selection of candidate companies, whose numbers are expected to grow significantly in the years ahead.

NEW MEMBER

Piernicola de Castris makes a presentation to the Assembly of his company Leone de Castris, wine producer since 1665 (16th generation).

CONGRES 2027

Jean-Nicolas D’Hondt, General Manager, of POLLET SA, presents to the members the main outline of the 2027 Congress program, which will be organized by his company together with members of his family. The Congress will take place in Belgium, primarily in Brussels second or third week of June. He provided an overview of the planned activities and highlighted the opportunity for members to discover both his family company and the rich cultural and historical heritage of Belgium.

THE « COMPENDIUM » HENOKIENS

The Association’s Compendium—a collection of written and compiled case studies on Henokiens member companies—currently includes 30 case studies all of which freely accessible on the Henokiens website. Two new case studies, on Colussi S.p.A. and Editions Henry Lemoine, are currently in preparation and will be presented at the  Henokiens - INSEAD Family Enterprise Day on 24 October 2026.

VISIT OF FABBRICA D’ARMI PIETRO BERETTA

Val Trompia, a historic symbol of Italian industry located in the heart of the Trompia Valley, a region renowned for its rich mineral deposits and abundant waterways. The company's historic headquarters has retained part of its original structure while evolving over time through the construction of new buildings and dedicated research and development facilities. In addition to touring the manufacturing plant, the Association’s members visited the Beretta Museum, which showcases the full range of Beretta fire arms produced throughout the company’s history, a collection constitutuing one of the world's most comprehensive exhibitions of Beretta models.

15th EDITION OF THE LEONARDO DA VINCI PRIZE

The 15th Leonardo da Vinci Prize,  created by the Henokiens Association the Château du Clos Lucé, was given on 17 June 2026 to the Italian company Mapei within the prestigious setting of the National Museum of Science and Technology-Leonardo da Vinci of Milan in the presence of his Director General, Mr. Fiorenzo Galli.
 
The prize was awarded by Mrs. Letizia Moratti, Member of the European Parliament, to Mrs. Veronica Squinzi, company's CEO, accompanied by Marco Squinzi and Laura Squinzi, , in the presence of Mr. Julian von Möller, President of the Henokiens Association and Mr. François Saint Bris, President of the Château du Clos Lucé – Parc Leonardo da Vinci.

Mapei, an Italian family-owned industrial company, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chemical products for the construction and public works sector. Founded in 1937, the company has been owned by the Squinzi family for three generations and has contributed to some of the world’s most important architectural and infrastructure projects. Present in 59 countries through 98 subsidiaries and with 106 plants in 42 countries, the company employs 13,200 people and generated revenue of €4.4 billion in 2024.

PRESENTATION AND VISIT OF ACETAIA GIUSTI

The members of the Association discovered the four centuries of history and tradition of the Henokiens member Acetaia Giusti, host of the two-day Henokiens Congress in Modena, oldest producer of traditional  balsamic vinegar of Modena. They had the opportunity to visit the company's historic aging cellars and an exhibition recounting the long and fascinating history of balsamic vinegar closely intertwined with the city of Modena. They also attended a presentation of the company by Claudio Stefani Giusti, Owner & CEO of Acetaia Giusti, reprensative of the 17th generation of the Giusti family, together with Josip Kotlar, Professor at Politecnico di Milano and author of the company's academic case study.

DISCOVERY OF THE CULTURE AND INDUSTRY OF THE MODENA REGION

• Visit of the Casa Luciano Pavarotti : The Henokiens attended an open-air opera concert organized by the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, then visited the Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti where they discovered the Maestro’s intimate world, his memories and his spirit.
• Visit of a cheese dairy and tasting for a discovery of the art of Parmigiano Reggiano at the heart of the expertise, through aromas, traditions and craftsmanship that define this iconic regional cheese.
• Visit to the Pagani factory, maker of legendary automobiles, where technology, design, and craftsmanship come together.
• Visit to the historic center of Modena and discovery of the majestic Ducal Palace in Piazza Roma.
• Visit to the Enzo Ferrari Museum, home to hundreds of the world’s most iconic cars, a place where Italian excellence in design and innovation is celebrated.