Summer Fancy Food Show: seen and heard for you

A record of over 300 Italian companies flocked to New York this week to launch new products and meet with US buyers at the show of the Specialty Food Association aimed at a multi-billion food market increasingly focused on quality and innovation

Organized by the Specialty Food Association and Universal Marketing, with the participation of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA-ICE), the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York proved that Italian companies exporting to the world’s largest economy are investing in research, opening local offices and are more prepared than they have ever been to catch up with new consumers and retailers.

ITALIAN INDUSTRY TO PLAY A LEADING ROLE – Strong of a centuries-old culinary tradition, producers including Acetum, Dalter, D’Amico, Ponti, Granarolo, Piave 1938 and Veroni introduced innovative, organic, products, enriched with new ingredients, smart packaging and transparent labels. “Italy is an undisputed global benchmark in food and wine. Its leadership is confirmed by consumers and importers that fully reward the Made in Italy” said Economic Development under secretary Ivan Scalfarotto, who visited the pavilion with ICE’s President Michele Scannavini. Italy’s exports grew by 22.2 % in 2015, confirming Italy as the leading US supplier of wine, pasta, olive oil, cheese and mineral water. “This edition is going to be our all-time best. Of course the Italian pavilion is larger than it’s ever been,” FSA senior vice president Chris Nemchek told ItalianFood.net.

PEARLS, MOUSSE AND SPRAY – Among the trends spotted at the show, the biggest evolution concerns olive oil and balsamic vinegar, whose use is growing in US kitchens. Pearls, mousse and spray are ready to entice a new generation of American consumers.

FLAXSEED AND SOYBEAN – Piave 1938 is introducing its new flaxseed oil, enriched with antioxidants such as rosemary, sage and laurel. The Veneto-based company is also launching its new high-oleic sunflower oil, designed to keep top cooking quality for 12 hours and a half, twice as longer as the traditional sunflower oil, and comes enriched with laurel to be easy on the palate and the stomach.

CHEESE FLAKES – Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano are now available in small formats for healthy snacks. Dalter, a group of producers from the Emilia region specialized in grated cheese and fresh cut cheese portions for the ho.re.ca. channel, unveiled new packages also meant for the retail industry..

LOW SODIUM MOZZARELLA – As the Food and Drug Administration cracks down on salt, top dairy group Granarolo unveiled new products including a new low-sodium mozzarella. It is also launching a new line of veggie burgers, a category very popular among US consumers seeking an alternative to meat.