Innovazione

🍺 Giovanni Vitale, Country Manager Italy for Salomon Foodworld, was interviewed at Beer&Food Attraction to discuss the company's innovations designed to support restaurateurs and meet market trends. The company aims to provide practical, quality solutions, especially for professionals dealing with the challenge of finding qualified kitchen staff. Salomon Foodworld introduced the Smesh Burger, a frozen burger that cooks in just 4 minutes, along with its potato flake bun and a vegan version made with wheat proteins, catering to the demand for plant-based options. Additionally, they presented Cubed Pork Belly with low-fat content and Boneless Marinated Chicken Thigh with sweet honey seasoning, both aiming for quick, tasty meal preparation.

📦 Mutti, Europe's market leader in tomato derivatives, announces the launch of the Lion Jar, a new glass jar for ready-made sauces that reduces CO2 emissions by at least 7%. The new design features iconic brand lions and reduces CO2 emissions equivalent to the absorption of about 22,000 trees annually in 2025. By 2026, CO2 savings will exceed 1,100 tonnes per year, akin to almost 13,000 car trips between Rome and Milan. Mutti has been dedicated to 100% Italian tomatoes since 1899, with a 2023 net turnover of €665 million and 565,000 tonnes of tomatoes processed.

📦 Eismann, a leader in direct frozen food sales in Europe, launches "Eismann & the city" in Milan with a revolutionary approach to shopping that combines quality, sustainability, and technology. The project introduces branded electric vehicles, Eis-cars, to maintain the cold chain during delivery, ensuring product quality. Eismann offers free delivery, a welcome discount for new customers, digital payment options via e-commerce or app, and personalized scheduling and communication through WhatsApp. The online catalog features over 350 products with no minimum purchase required, and the strategy has national prospects, aiming to overcome urban delivery challenges and expand to other Italian cities. CEO Antonello Badanesi endorses the project, which reflects the company's over 50 years of experience and commitment to quality and sustainability, including a UNI EN ISO 9000 certified system and a wide range of products catering to various dietary needs.

🍝 Bonduelle, an Italian market leader in vegetables, expands its fresh ready meals with four new offerings, catering to a growing consumer base seeking healthy, tasty, vegetable-rich options daily. The fresh ready meals market is increasing, with bowls with dressing up by +3.7% in value and +3.9% in volume, and gastronomic salads up by +10.9% in value and +10.2% in volume, according to Nielsen AT 2024 data. Bonduelle's own bowls with dressing and gastronomic salads outperform the market, growing by +9.3% and +18.6% in value, and +5.2% and +16.1% in volume, respectively, achieving a 21.9% and 32.9% market share. The new offerings include Cous Cous Integrale with Shrimp and Chickpeas; Mafalde Corte with Zucchini, Quartirolo Lombardo DOP, Tomatoes, and a hint of Oregano; Regionale all'Italiana, and Benessere Vitality—priced at 3.49€ for Cous Cous and Mafalde, and 3.39€ for Italiana and Vitality. Available at the fresh counter of large retailers.

🏡 La Quercetta, a country house near Foligno, enhanced its outdoor spaces with KE's outdoor solutions, creating new convivial areas immersed in Umbria's nature. The project by PMO KE and KE Store Arredocasa involved transforming terraces into versatile, welcoming environments for all seasons. The highlight is the bioclimatic pergola Kedry Prime, which turned into an outdoor dining room with views of the surrounding valley. Integrated LED lighting, Vertika Prime sunblades, Kheope shade sail, Screeny Tens drop-down awnings, and the Qubica Light system were installed to modulate light and provide comfort, ensuring a balance between tradition and innovation.

🌿 The Bridge Bio expands its range with "Avena Barista" in a 500 ml format, a naturally lactose-free organic beverage. Specially formulated to achieve optimal creaminess with both professional machines and domestic frothers, it offers a dense and persistent foam without added sugars. The product is versatile for various culinary uses and is made with select organic ingredients: spring water, 14% organic oats, organic sunflower seed oil, organic safflower seed oil, and sea salt. Packaging is sustainable, using the renewable, recyclable, and carbon-neutral Pure-Pak® gable-top carton. The Bridge Bio, founded in 1994 in San Pietro Mussolino, is family-run and produces plant-based drinks, creams, and desserts, recently adding Biogurt and Veg Egg to their product line, focusing on sustainability and quality. ????

🍓 The Italian small fruits market, excluding strawberries, is valued at €214 million as of 30/06/2024, with a consumption increase of 15.3% in value. Over three years (2021-2024), the market grew by over 50%, from €141 million to €214 million—a €73 million rise. Noberasco expands its "Viva la Frutta" line with "Viva i Frutti Rossi," featuring dried cranberries, cherries, and strawberries. The new mix is rich in antioxidants like flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and vitamin C, benefiting health and immunity. It offers versatile use in sweet and savory recipes, as toppings, or as a healthy snack. The product emphasizes environmental sustainability with a recyclable doypack with a freshness-saving zipper.

📱 At Sigep 2025, Fabio Russo interviewed Caterina De Mauro, CEO of Aroma Macchine, a Campania-based company specializing in coffee machines for OCS and Horeca sectors. It was the company's first time at the fair, garnering positive feedback from both Italian and international audiences. The event allowed visitors to explore their product range, including the bestseller Plus, with a focus on the Horeca line, set to be the business's core in the coming years. Aroma Macchine aims to provide a complete package of high-quality equipment and dedicated services for professionals.

🍸 Kraft Heinz enters the ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages market with Crystal Light Vodka Refreshers. Nearly 1 in 5 consumers use Crystal Light as a cocktail mixer, leading to this product innovation. Crystal Light Vodka Refreshers boasts only 77 calories, zero sugars, and 3.8% ABV, targeting the 40% of hard seltzer consumers who prefer this alcohol volume. Initially available in the northeastern U.S. for $9.99 per four-pack, a broader expansion with new flavors and multipack options is planned for 2026. Crystal Light becomes the first powdered drink brand to enter the hard seltzer segment, aligning with evolving consumer preferences.

🍕 Four renowned Italian pizza masters came together for “DIALOGHI,” an exclusive event on Monday, 17 March at Modus Milano, showcasing their regional culinary traditions through pizza. Paolo De Simone, host and founder of Modus Pizzeria, delighted guests with his “Cilentana” and "Cannolo Cilentano." Raffaele Bonetta offered “Malazè,” Angelo Pezzella served “Pizza Verdone,” and Manuel Maiorano presented “Nuda e Cruda.” The event paid tribute to both local traditions and the host city Milan with the “Pizza Fritta Milanese,” combining pizza with ossobuco.