Giuridico e Amministrativo

🍬 Federalimentare expressed disappointment as Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance and the State Accounting Office gave a negative opinion on postponing the Sugar Tax to 2026, despite broad political consensus. Federalimentare's President, Paolo Mascarino, warned this decision severely impacts the food & beverage industry and the entire production chain. The UN non-communicable diseases summit on September 24, 2025, may see other nations consider similar taxation on Italian products like cured meats, cheeses, and olive oil.

☕ Airing on Rai 3 on February 9, "Report" highlighted a critical issue in Italy's coffee sector: the lack of transparency in coffee packaging information in supermarkets. Coffee expert Andrej Godina emphasizes a cultural shift by roasters to justify retail price increases and enable bar managers to revise espresso prices, ensuring sustainable margins in a market facing record green coffee price hikes. Detailed product communication can lead to a more informed, sustainable market, potentially allowing higher prices for differentiated coffee qualities, similar to wine, chocolate, and craft beer sectors, and educating consumers to make more rational choices similar to olive oil certifications.

🍷 Founded in 1985 in Aglié, Cieck winery celebrates its 40th harvest. The company, started by Remo Falconieri (born 1933), initially produced around 2,500 bottles of Erbaluce Metodo Classico. The wine debuted in 1987, marking the beginning of the company named after an old farmhouse in Aglié. The winery, now located in San Giorgio Canavese, cultivates 15 hectares, mostly Erbaluce, an ancient indigenous white grape of Canavese, alongside native varietals like Nebbiolo, Barbera, Neretto, Freisa. Cieck is managed by Domenico Caretto, Lia Falconieri, and Remo Falconieri, with consultants Gianpiero Gerbi and in-house enologist Tommaso Scapino. The new eco-friendly winery, built in 2013, includes solar panels, a phytodepuration plant, and rainwater recycling. The area's unique soil, influenced by the Glacier Balteo, contributes to the minerality of Cieck wines. Erbaluce, with its first mention in 1606, received DOC recognition in 1967 and DOCG in 2010. The vineyard practices traditional pergola cultivation.

🏠 Sabrina Dallagiovanna, the Commercial and Marketing Manager of Molino Dallagiovanna, introduced the new "Uniqua Viola" flour at Sigep, celebrating the Uniqua flour range's 10th anniversary. The "purple" flour is made from whole purple wheat, rich in antioxidants and fiber. The company's event formats, like Meet Massari R-evolution, now include prestigious new locations such as London and Las Vegas. The start of the 4th Pizza Bit Competition—searching for an ambassador for the pizza world—has been announced. Additionally, 2025 will see the finale of the Pastry Bit Competition, determining the ambassador for the pastry segment.

🥚 Annemarie Kaser of Federazione Latterie Alto Adige reports hay milk makes up 26% of total milk production in the mountain region, growing over 25 percentage points since its STG-certified start in 2018. South Tyrol, Italy, emphasizes traditional methods in mountain zones for sustainable, healthy milk production. Small family-run farms average 15 dairy cows and 8 calves, with manual labor on steep terrains. Hay milk contributors increased from 500 in 2018, with 77 million kg of milk, to 1,600 in 2023, producing 96 million kg. Investments in drying ventilation and storage facilities, alongside communication, are vital for growth and awareness. The initiative “Think Milk Taste Europe, Be Smart!” promotes hay milk as an eco-friendly, socially responsible food choice.

📊 METRO Italia closed fiscal year 2023/2024 with a record turnover of €2 billion, a 2.1% increase from the previous year. The company operates in 16 Italian regions with 48 stores, 2 FSD deposits, and approximately 3,800 employees. Globally, METRO AG reached €31 billion in turnover, up 1.6%. Cash&Carry sales were €1.5 billion (76% of total sales), while FSD turnover jumped to €466 million, a 7.3% increase. Online Market sales skyrocketed by 67% to €21 million. METRO Italia's assortment includes around 30,000 references, with 7,000 local food products and 3,500 "Own Brand" items. Upcoming in 2024-2025, METRO Italia plans to open new facilities in Olbia and Pontedera and has partnered with A2A for 156 electric vehicle charging points. The company has streamlined operations in Trentino-Alto-Adige and announced the closure of stores in Rimini and Pozzuoli due to poor performance.

🍕 At Marca 2025 in Bologna, Margherita S.p.A., known as "La più grande pizzeria d’Italia," unveiled Pizza Ariosa under the Re Pomodoro brand, targeting the frozen and fresh pizza market. Boasting over 400 skilled pizza makers and a unique artisanal process, the company is set to revolutionize the retail sector. Pizza Ariosa features a dough made with high-quality flour, sourdough, and a 48-hour leavening process, resulting in an 80% hydration level and a high, crispy base. The gourmet toppings range from classic to bold flavors, offering a multisensory experience. Available both frozen and fresh, Ariosa aims to meet the modern consumer's need for convenience without sacrificing craftsmanship, providing competitive advantages for retailers and distributors. Margherita S.p.A.'s CEO Andrea Ghia emphasizes Ariosa's potential to become a retail pizza market staple.

🎧 Domenico Carretta notes Turin's "strongly growing" tourism figures and the city's title as the European Capital of Smart Tourism. Marina Chiarelli and Andrea Tronzano highlight Turin's mix of outdoor, culture, international events, and gastronomy. The FISU World University Winter Games brought over 2500 student athletes to Turin. The Frecciarossa Final Eight basketball from February 12-16. Food events include the Salone Del Vermouth (February 22/23) and CioccolaTò (February 27 - March 2). Special Olympics World Winter Games will host 1,500 athletes from 103 countries from March 8-16. Just The Woman I Am saw 28,000 participants in 2024; the Deejay Ten run is on March 23. Biennale Democrazia returns March 26-30. Special Shroud of Turin exhibition for youth from April 28 to May 5, during the 2025 Jubilee.

🏖 Valentina Reino, Airbnb Italia's head of public policy, highlighted that rural short-term rentals have doubled since 2020, indicating a shift of tourism to less crowded areas. In Venice, short-term rentals make up less than 5% of tourism, suggesting over-visitation stems from other sources. Across Italy, short-term rentals account for 1.3% of properties, with 13% of homes remaining vacant. Airbnb is working on projects to direct tourists to less frequented destinations, in partnership with local authorities.

🔥 Santorini, amid an ongoing seismic swarm, is the victim of fake news on social media, with artificial intelligence-generated videos depicting false volcanic eruptions. These misleading contents have gone viral, showing Santorini engulfed in flames and lava. The misinformation has caused image damage to the destination, leading to thousands of tourists leaving the island due to fears of increased seismic activity.