Authentic Italian agri-food innovations have once again taken center stage at the Jacob Javits Convention Center during the Summer Fancy Food Show 2026. The vibrant Italian Pavilion, driven by the strategic support of Universal Marketing, stood out as one of the largest and most visited international areas of the show, proving that the North American demand for “The Extraordinary Italian Taste” is stronger than ever.
In this high-profile setting, Italianfood.net, the international B2B platform of Gruppo Food, hosted the prestigious 8th edition of the Italian Food Awards USA, celebrating the most innovative Italian food and beverage products launched over the past two years in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The lively ceremony brought together top retail buyers, importers, and international trade professionals from all over the world. The event kicked off with opening remarks tracking the latest consumption shifts in the North American specialty food industry, followed by an insightful market overview provided by NielsenIQ (NIQ), whose sales data accounted for 30% of the final scoring alongside the qualitative votes of the Special Jury.
In addition to the main categories, the editorial team of Gruppo Food presented two special prizes acknowledging top-tier solutions in market adaptability:
- Packaging: Le Vie del Tartufo – Hot Truffle Honey
- Innovation: Di Marco – Di Marco Pinsa Classica
Italian Food Awards 2026: The Category Winners
Out of the many candidates submitted, the combining scores of the expert jury and market performance crowned the winners across 8 distinct categories:
APERITIF & BEVERAGE
La Galvanina
Soda alla pesca biologica
DELI
Pfitscher
Pancetta Alto Adige
FROZEN
Sammontana Società Benefit
Mango Gelato Bar
FUTURE EXCELLENCE
A. Loacker USA Inc.
Strawberry Quadratini
OILS & CONDIMENTS
Oleificio Ranieri
Extra Love
PASTA, PIZZA & BAKING INGREDIENTS
De Cecco
De Cecco Protein Boost
PRESERVES & SAUCES
F.lli Saclà
Vegan Pesto Basil
SWEETS
Ficacci Olive
CHOCOLIVE- Dark Chocolate Covered Olives
PACKAGING
Le Vie del Tartufo
Hot Truffle Honey
INNOVATION
Di Marco
Di Marco Pinsa Classica “Fresh_by_Frozen” 2×8.1 oz Retail