Milan, October 5 - The board of Supermarkets Italiani SpA, which controls Esselunga SpA retail chain, said Wednesday it will hold off on a planned sale of the company after founder and owner Bernardo Caprotti died last Friday. The board also named Piergaetano Marchetti as chairman to replace the late Caprotti, whose son Giuseppe said today he intends to do everything in his power "to safeguard the group". Also on Wednesday, it emerged that Bernardo Caprotti has bequeathed control of Supermarkets Italiani to his second wife Giuliana Albera and their daughter Marina, who now own 66.7% of the company. Esselunga was founded in 1957 by brothers Bernardo, Guido and Claudio Caprotti and is entirely owned by the Caprotti family through Supermarkets Italiani SpA.