Giuridico e Amministrativo

🍬 Ricola introduces "Menta Fresca," a new mint-flavored candy offering a refreshing and revitalizing effect for any time of the day. Made with peppermint oil from the Swiss Alps, the candy also includes Ricola's traditional blend of 13 Swiss alpine herbs. Menta Fresca comes in a modern 50g pack, gluten-free and naturally sweetened with stevia, available in top bars and tobacco shops.

🍺 Aceto 32 by 32 Via dei Birrai, a craft brewery established in 2006 in Veneto by Loreno Michielin, Fabiano Toffoli, and Alessandro Zilli, is a beer vinegar with a 5% acetic acid content. It's created using the slow, natural "static" acetification process over 7-8 months without pasteurization or filtering, by 32 Via dei Birrai and a partnering organic and biodynamic acetaia in Modena. Aceto 32 boasts citrusy and fruity nuances and is packaged in a 25 cl orange bottle with a spray pump.

🥜 Over 9,500 new almond products were launched across 88 countries in 2023. In Italy, the almond market saw 230 new introductions, a 6% increase from the previous year. Almonds led in Snack, Cereal, Dairy, and Sports Nutrition categories, constituting 30% of all new nut-based products. Gluten-free claims topped the label qualities in new 2023 products, indicating a trend in the food industry towards versatile and nutritious options. Harbinder Maan of the Almond Board of California highlighted almonds as gluten-free and nutrient-rich, ideal for a variety of recipes. Almond flour, a versatile ingredient, offers nutrients like fiber, calcium, iron, protein, magnesium, and vitamin E. Almonds are available in over 14 forms and are celebrated for their unique texture and flavor, supporting sports nutrition innovation through research on post-exercise recovery benefits.

🍺 Simone Pretti from Bar Centrale in Pellizzano, TN, won the fifth Stella Artois Draught Masters Italia on February 17. The event occurred at the Beer&Food Attraction at the Fiera di Rimini, recognizing Italy's best beer pourer. Pretti excelled in pouring three 40cl glasses in three minutes and three 20cl Stella Artois glasses. Judges included Tom Robberechts, Allaine Schaiko, and previous contest winner XiaoXiao Yang. AB InBev, with its premium brand Stella Artois, organized the competition, featuring initiatives from brands like Corona Cero, highlighting responsible consumption.

🍷 Italian wine exports surged by 20% in volume and 21% in value during the last two months of 2024 compared to the same period of the previous year, driven by potential U.S. tariffs. Overall, 2024 saw a growth of 10% in value, exceeding €1.9 billion. In December, bottled still wines outpaced the average with a 21% volume increase and a 34% value boost. Internal U.S. consumption, however, has been declining for two consecutive years, with a 7% volume decrease and Italy specifically seeing a 4.4% drop.

💥 Mokador (Italy) and Darich (Korea) won the Platinum Medal 2025 from IIAC - International Institute of Coffee Tasters at the International Coffee Tasting competition. The top 20% of the Gold Medal 2024 winners were in contention, highlighting the event's competitive nature. Mokador was awarded for its Diva Brigitte and Diva Sophia capsules, while Darich's Oro espresso blend secured the win. Carlo Odello, IIAC president, noted the precision of the sensory judges and the significance of capsules winning for the first time since the contest's inception in 2006. The competition adheres to strict sensory analysis rules with blind testing and statistically validated profiles.

📍 In Florence, Alessandra Signori, Vice President of Property Managers Italia, addressed the city council's economic development committee on the tourism rental sector. Signori cited Tuscany's top ranking in Italy for tourism reputation according to the Regional Tourism Reputation Index by Demoskopika. She emphasized the need for clear regulations to balance residents' quality of life and tourists' experience, calling for constructive dialogue and not a "crusade against an entire sector.

🛤 GNV and Europ Assistance Italia have formed a partnership focusing on passenger safety and serenity, offering two types of insurance policies: 'Prenota Sereno' for personal protection, including travel assistance, medical expense reimbursement, luggage security, and accident coverage, and 'Danni al Veicolo a Bordo' for vehicle damage during boarding, navigation, and disembarking. Policies can be purchased during ticket booking, through travel agencies, call centers, or GNV's website, with full digital medical assistance available via Quick Assistance platform.

🏖 Federalberghi Garda Veneto and Associazione Albergatori Garda commend Garda's allocation of the tourist tax for maintenance of roads, public green areas, beaches, and municipal buildings. Ivan De Beni, president of Federalberghi Garda Veneto, highlights the importance of a well-maintained welcoming area for attracting visitors in a competitive market. Luigi Zermini, president of Associazione Albergatori Garda, appreciates the Administration's effort to improve livability for residents and tourists. The associations emphasize reinvestment of tourism tax in tangible improvements.

🏖️ Catalonia cracks down on illegal tourist accommodations, requesting the removal of 3,351 listings from booking platforms by the end of 2024. The General Directorate of Tourism, under the Department of Business and Labor, provides municipalities with tools for monitoring and verifying short-term rentals. Over thirty municipalities have joined the initiative, with staff training for inspection teams already underway this week.