Every year, 800 Italian food companies are entering foreign markets for the first time. In 2017, Italian Food & Beverage exports increased by around 7% on 2016, with an expected turnover at the end of the year of about 32 billion euros. The most important destination of Italian food products are Europe and, increasingly, the United States. According to Federalimentare data, Asia is growing fast, first and foremost China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan. Italian Trade Agency (ITA-ICE) has outlined a plan to strengthen the Hosted Buyers Program – which helps buyers define meetings at Cibus 2018 (the most relevant Italian trade show dedicated to food – scheduled in Parma from 7 to 10 May) – as well as guided tours of Italian Food & Beverage companies. The Buyers Lounge of Cibus 2018 will host about 2,500 top foreign buyers, for whom the program of guided tours of the Emilia ‘food valley’s’ food companies has been expanded. They are buyers and managers of the most important retail chains, on-trade companies, and importers from the USA, Canada, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania. Buyers from the large-scale retail trade operating in Italy and abroad, including the Auchan Coop Group, will be also present with their own promotion area.
A new format for buyers
The gastronomic profile of the trade show will be enriched by the new format of the institutional Food Courts. These will include tasting areas and cooking shows of typical local products. They will be structured and animated continuously in Hall 8, strategically close to the Buyers Lounge to help exhibitors dialogue with retailers, Ho.re.ca. and out-of-home catering agents. Exports recorded an increase of 7% on the previous year. In view of the celebration of 2018 as the Year of Italian Food, the Italian Trade Agency – thanks to its worldwide widespread network and a 90-years experience in the promotion of Made in Italy – is even more careful in seizing the opportunities on foreign markets for small and medium-sized Italian companies. On the occasion of Cibus 2018, we note the record attendance of 370 buyers appropriately selected and invited by the foreign network in agreement with Fiere di Parma – stated Ines Aronadio, Head of the Coordination Office for the Promotion of Made in Italy by Italian Trade Agency. The plan to strengthen incoming from foreign, European, and overseas buyers – undertaken by Fiere di Parma in cooperation with Federalimentare and Italian Trade Agency – was supported by a continuous road show that touched the major foreign food fairs in the various target markets. The missions touched the Winter Fancy Food in San Francisco last January, Dubai at Gulfood 2018, London to present Cibus 2018 to the world of catering and retail (in February and March), and finally Foodex 2018 in Tokyo with a Cibus evening at the Italian embassy headquarters.
