Biscuits and Frollini are a must on Italian breakfast tables. The sector is also experiencing a period of major innovations in terms of ingredient awareness, following consumer trends that require more and more products compliant with functional and health benefits. As a result, the range has been diversified so that now there are new Frollini products with whole wheat, with grains, gluten free, organic, and without palm oil products, alongside the classic version. Another discernible trend is that there are enriched and palatable products that are not only well suited for breakfast, but also for a delicious brunch or mid-afternoon snack.
Expansion into foreign markets
The consumption of these products is, however, anything but customary beyond Italian borders. Cereal and yogurt, or savory products instead of sweet ones, and the so-called “continental breakfast” are very popular on European or American breakfast tables. Exporting Italian Frollini requires, therefore, remarkable commitment, which must first pass through product information. The Lago Group for example, which is already exporting its wafers into seventy countries worldwide, is now seeking to pitch its new range of 20 Frollini articles, starting with the countries in which it has already secured a firm foothold. They can take advantage of the good distribution gained with wafers in foreign markets. All the same, there is no widespread tradition of eating Frollini for breakfast, nor much awareness of palm oil issues. It is for this reason the company explains to its distributors when to consume and how to match Frollini.
Panettone & Co. – Italian Christmas
Panettone and Pandoro are the classic Italian Christmas sweets, securing more or less 80% of the preferences. There are, however, also other segments showing good growth performance, particularly the delicious, and above all, filled products, from classics to cakes and other specialties, which offer companies a great opportunity to differentiate recipes. Next, there is the whole premium area, which encompasses products made with high quality raw materials and a great deal of craftsmanship, presented in pastry wraps or premium packaging, either by themselves or in combination with a bottle of sparkling wine, which are also suitable as a present. The offer is becoming increasingly differentiated with new functional proposals, complying with consumer demands for sustainable, organic, and free-products such as gluten free and lactose free. Panettone and Pandoro are the most well-known and sought-after products in foreign markets, which still dominate the traditional references. Standing out among the exporting countries are the United States, Canada, and all those areas that have experienced a growth of Italian settlements over time.