In recent days, the Italian Federation of Public Establishments (FIPE) convened an assembly to establish the Coordination of Italian Restaurants Abroad, a network aimed at uniting Italian restaurateurs operating worldwide. With representation in 15 countries—from Australia to the United States, Finland to Oman—the organization seeks to promote authentic Italian cuisine while countering the glut of imitations that dilute the Italian brand. At its inaugural meeting, the Coordination elected as president Roberto Costa, a prominent entrepreneur and founder of the UK-based restaurant chain Macellaio RC.
The Coordination’s board, comprised of influential restaurateurs from Brazil, the UAE, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Oman, the UK, Romania, Spain, Ukraine, and the United States, reflects Italian dining’s robust footprint in global markets. Lino Enrico Stoppani, president of FIPE-Confcommercio, noted that Italian cuisine is both a valuable economic asset and a cultural treasure, renowned and revered across the globe. “The creation of this Coordination gives a voice to entrepreneurs who champion the Made in Italy brand abroad and represents a concerted effort against ‘Italian sounding’—imitations that mimic not only our products but the cuisine itself,” Stoppani said. “Food is a key marker of Italian identity, communicating our culture and lifestyle abroad. Italian restaurants serve not only as outlets for our exports but as veritable cultural emissaries of Italy’s image worldwide.” Stoppani added that the initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to secure UNESCO’s recognition of Italian cuisine as an intangible cultural heritage.
Roberto Costa, the newly appointed president, emphasized that Italian restaurants abroad are more than commercial ventures. “They are instruments of ‘gastro-diplomacy,’ promoting Italy’s image and expertise on the world stage. We will continue to support and uplift our restaurateurs abroad while preserving our culinary heritage from imitation,” Costa said, reaffirming the Coordination’s mission to safeguard and elevate authentic Italian dining across borders.
