The Italian Food Awards USA, dedicated to the most innovative Italian food products in the U.S., are coming back for their sixth edition. Sponsored by Italianfood.net, the international project of Gruppo Food, the Italian Food Awards USA aims to help US retailers and food service operators discover the untapped potential of authentic Italian food. Winners in each category will be celebrated at ‘The Awards Ceremony’, to be held on June 24 in New York City, featuring an exclusive agenda highlighting the latest Italian F&B trends. Alongside winning companies, international guests, and jurors ..read more

Campari Group has inaugurated a new Aperol bottling line as part of a €75 million investment to expand its Novi Ligure plant in Italy. The group said that the bottling line, which adds 6,500 square meters to the existing 60,700-square-metre site, is the next necessary stage in the company’s international development. The leading brand in Campari Group’s global sales, demand for the Italian bitter apéritif has grown by 500% in the last decade. Aperol is the leading brand in the Campari Group’s global sales with a 24% share, quintupling its growth in the last ten years and achieving record perfo ..read more

Kroger and Albertsons Cos have amended the asset sale agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers to include an extra 166 stores in a bid to get regulatory approval for their proposed $25 billion (€23.5 billion) merger. C&S will pay Kroger an all-cash consideration of about $2.9 billion, up from the previous payout of $1.9 billion (€1.8 billion). With the inclusion of the additional 166 stores, the updated divestiture package will see a total of 579 stores being sold and operated by the new owner, C&S. Kroger and Albertsons have been looking to offload stores to address regulatory concern ..read more

In 2023, groundwork was laid for Grana Padano PDO’s export volumes to outstrip domestic sales this year. Already, foreign consumer turnover has surpassed its Italian counterpart, reaching nearly €1.95 billion compared to Italy’s €1.65 billion. Renato Zaghini, President of the Grana Padano PDO Protection Consortium, underscored this during the latest Consortium assembly. “In 2023, global consumers spent almost €3.7 billion, a staggering figure, marking a 16% increase from 2022,” highlighted Zaghini. “To sustain this trajectory, we recognize export as our key growth avenue. Yet, we mustn’t overl ..read more

The Italian dairy cooperative Latteria Soresina and the Zanetti Group have formed a consortium to seal the acquisition deal of Saviola Spa, which boasts a revenue of over 140 million euros, primarily driven by the sale of PDO-certified Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano. This strategic move aims to bolster Latteria Soresina and Zanetti’s foothold in both domestic and international markets, particularly with high-value-added products reliant on Italian milk sourcing. Moreover, the acquisition allows Saviola to perpetuate its enterprise, buoyed by the entrepreneurial prowess of two prominent p ..read more

In the last two decades, Italian wine exports have surged nearly threefold (+188%), penetrating markets across 140 foreign countries. This growth has propelled wines to the forefront of Italy’s global agri-food exports, a revelation unearthed by Coldiretti, the Italian farmers’ association, through an in-depth analysis of Istat data unveiled at the 2024 Vinitaly trade show. Vinitaly wrapped up its annual gathering this year, drawing in 97,000 attendees and over 30,000 international stakeholders (+2%), representing a diverse spectrum of 146 nations. Of particular note was the remarkable 20% sur ..read more

Encouraging indicators of revival and stabilization mark the current state of affairs in the Bresaola della Valtellina PGI sector. Following a challenging 2023, the industry appears poised for a favorable turnaround. Production of the renowned cured meat from Lombardy surged by +9.44% during the initial two months of 2024 compared to the corresponding period last year. Despite a slight dip of -3.45% from 2022, total production stood at just under 11,900 tonnes in the previous year. Utilizing slightly over 33,256 tonnes of meticulously selected raw materials (-4.34%), the sector maintained its ..read more

The epitome of Italian heritage and a pivotal element in the nation’s culinary legacy, tomato preserves stand as stalwarts amidst Italy’s national Made in Italy Day, a governmental initiative observed annually on April 15th to champion the essence and excellence of Italian-made food and beverage products. The ascendancy of Italian tomato preserves finds affirmation in export statistics, with over 60% of production earmarked for international markets. In 2023, the export trajectory of all tomato derivatives witnessed a noteworthy ascent, registering a formidable 16% surge in value compared to t ..read more

SIAL Paris 2024 is poised to host over 7,500 exhibitors from more than 130 countries, projecting a 75% turnout of international visitors and showcasing upwards of 400,000 products. Regarded as a cornerstone event for global food industry stakeholders, SIAL’s upcoming edition pledges to be an unparalleled rendezvous for innovative enterprises and key decision-makers. In the ensuing weeks, a bespoke program will be unveiled, enhancing the SIAL experience manifold. Over the five-day trade show, Paris will buzz with culinary fervor and camaraderie, with activities epitomizing the essence of gastro ..read more

In furtherance of its commitment to health-conscious offerings, Barilla has undertaken a strategic expansion of its product portfolio within the United States by integrating Cellentani pasta shape – also recognized as Cavatappi – into its Protein+ line. Crafted from durum wheat and fortified with protein derived from chickpeas, lentils, and peas, this pasta variant boasts a nutritional profile comprising sixteen grams of protein and ten grams of fiber per one hundred grams of product. Cellentani represents the latest addition to Barilla’s Protein+ pasta collection, renowned for its emphasis on ..read more