The 18th edition of the ‘Salon du Fromage et des Produit Laitiers,’ a premier B2B event tailored for connoisseurs in the cheese industry, unfolded on February 25th in the heart of Paris. Over three days, the event is set to garner attention as a haven for the celebration of top-tier cheeses, quality dairy products, and the enterprises behind their creation, attracting an attendance of over 8,000 industry professionals and featuring 290 exhibitors representing 15 nations.
Paolo Zanetti, President of Assolatte, the Italian association of dairy industries, underscores Italy’s prominence in the proceedings, asserting, “With an impressive portfolio of over 40 brands, Italy claims the second-highest position in terms of exhibitor count, trailing only behind the host nation, France. Moreover, our leadership is unequivocal in the realm of foreign cheeses.”
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Assolatte’s collaborative engagement in the Salon du Fromage, in conjunction with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), manifested in the launch of the event “Les fromages italiens, un bon choix à tout moment, 535 façons de le dire” within the ITA Pavilion. This initiative, a curated tasting workshop of Italian cheeses, was led by the master cheesemaker François Robin.
Italian cheeses have ascended to the zenith of France’s dairy imports, commanding nearly one-third of the overall import market. “The trajectory of Italian cheese exports to France is consistently upward, with 2023 witnessing a remarkable surge of +7%, encompassing a voluminous 135,000 tonnes—a historic pinnacle in revenue exceeding the billion-euro mark,” says Zanetti.
The acclaim for Italian offerings in the French market extends to various segments, with fresh cheeses leading in both overall volumes and growth rates. Notably, mozzarella maintains its premier status among the discerning palates of French consumers. Substantial growth can also be noted in burrata and mascarpone (+14% and +15%, respectively), grated cheeses (+11%), and distinguished PDO varieties such as Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano (both +3%). The discerning French consumers are also increasingly embracing niche cheeses like Asiago PDO, Taleggio PDO, Caciocavallo, and Montasio PDO.
The Salon presents a strategic opportunity for the Consortium of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO to reclaim a leading role in the French market. France stands as the primary international market within the EU for Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, second only to the USA globally. In 2022, exports saw a notable uptick, registering a growth of +7.2% with 12,944 tonnes, surpassing the 2021 figure of 12,077 tonnes. At the Consortium’s exhibition space (Hall 7.3, Booth C082), both curated tastings and offerings from the six participating dairies (Azienda Agricola Boselli Nullo e Marcello, Caseificio di Gavasseto e Roncadella, Caseificio San Bernardino, Consorzio Vacche Rosse, Latteria Agricola Quistello, and 4 Madonne Caseificio dell’Emilia) will be dedicated to exploring the diverse nuances of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO varieties.
