Iniziativa eco-responsabile e CSR

🚗 Italy surpassed France in tourism, ranking second in Europe with a record-high 458.4 million tourist nights in 2024, a 2.5% increase from 2023 and 5% above pre-COVID-19 levels. Domestic tourist arrivals in Italy dropped from 65.8 million to 60.8 million, while foreign tourist arrivals increased from 67.9 million to 68.5 million. Spain led the chart with 500.1 million tourist nights, with France at 451 million. Overall, tourism grew in 34 out of 37 European countries monitored by Eurostat. However, Italy experienced a 3.2% decrease in tourist arrivals in 2024, with total arrivals at 129.3 million, down from 133.6 million in 2023. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines will start charging for baggage from late May, abandoning its two-free-bag policy. The company also announced its first major layoff of 1,750 employees, 15% of its workforce, due to pressure from shareholders like Elliott Investment Management to increase revenue and profits. Major US airlines anticipate a weaker economic environment affecting domestic travel demand. Spirit Airlines aims for profitability after restructuring following Chapter 11, focusing on premium travel. The Trump administration is considering travel restrictions, potentially affecting international travel sentiment, and the third season of "The White Lotus" set in Koh Samui, Thailand, may boost tourism but raises concerns about environmental impacts

📍 ZeepUp, an Italian startup, launched in Milan on April 2 after success in Florence. Aiming to involve 200 active venues by mid-2025 and 500 by year-end, they focus on sustainable dining, saving 70 tons of food, reducing 150 tons of CO2e, and saving 80,000 m³ of water. Their pre-seed funding raised €500,000, and they're planning a €2.5 million funding round for expansion and new features. ZeepUp collaborates with Slow Food Italia and encourages restaurants to offer Smart Menus on their platform.

🍷 Cantine di Verona introduces G.Low, a new low-alcohol wine line featuring an 8% alcohol Bianco from Garganega and Trebbiano grapes, and a Rosato from Corvina and Merlot, produced using natural processes involving early harvesting and controlled fermentations. G.Low, merging "green" and "low", emphasizes sustainability and low alcohol content. Packaging employs eco-friendly Re-Play Tintoretto Gesso paper with 15% recycled glassine. Launch price is €6, debuting at Vinitaly and sold in Northern Europe and 10 group wine shops from April 2025.

📢 Ferrarelle, renowned natural mineral water brand, partners with Geopop, a leading digital scientific dissemination platform. The campaign, launched on March 16, showcases the water's journey over 30 years from Roccamonfina Volcano to the Geyser of Riardo Park, emphasizing its mineral enrichment and natural effervescence. Aimed at younger audiences, it includes a 7-minute online exclusive and a 1.5-minute social media video. Marketing Director Gabriele Monda highlights the initiative's role in making science accessible and promoting sustainability.

🌱 At TUTTOFOOD Milan 2025 (May 5-8, Rho Fiera Milano), 12% of international exhibitors will be from Asia-Pacific, including China. The event has been influenced by the "The Italian Aperitivo" roadshow in Japan, involving over 1000 decision-makers in the food & beverage sector across ten international stops. A significant Japanese delegation will participate, facilitated by ITA Tokyo and Koelnmesse Gmbh. TUTTOFOOD will feature more than 25% foreign exhibitors and welcome around 90,000 visitors, including over 3,000 top international buyers. NielsenIQ data shows a +2.7% organic value growth in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024. Italian products like powdered coffee, dry pasta, oil, and tomato concentrate saw volume growth between +2.3% and +8.1%. TUTTOFOOD Week (May 3-8) will complement the event with food culture experiences around Milan.

🌿 Barilla launched the Accademia del Basilico to promote sustainable agricultural practices and precision farming in basil cultivation, in partnership with DINAMICA and Open Field S.r.l., involving 21 partners across seven lessons. With a 40.4% global market share in pesto production, Barilla's Pesto is made with ISCC PLUS-certified basil from its Rubbiano (PR) sustainable facility. The initiative aims to foster an innovative agricultural model, enhance soil health, reduce agrochemical use, and support digital tools like the DSS system for disease management. Barilla's supply chain upholds ISCC PLUS certification principles, collaborates with the University of Bologna and CeRSAA to develop advanced agricultural practices, and uses the Basilicum app to optimize harvest and minimize waste. The company also ensures soil fertility through crop rotation, dedicating 3% of fields to biodiversity. Barilla's three-year agreements with farmers guarantee production continuity, economic stability, and reward sustainability. From 2023, Barilla Pesto alla Genovese's traceability across 14 European markets is ensured by Connecting Food's blockchain. Sustainability efforts extend to packaging, with "mezzo bianco" jars containing up to 65% recycled glass, decreasing CO2 emissions by 28%, and an aim to use this packaging for all products, with over 43 million jars already produced.

🌺 CIRFOOD Retail, part of the Italian leader group in collective and commercial catering, will manage the catering at Euroflora – the 13th International Flower and Ornamental Plant Exhibition in Genoa from April 24 to May 4, 2025. The event will feature 15 dining points across three strategic areas offering local Ligurian specialties, such as Focaccia di Recco IGP and Pesto di Pra’. Sustainability is a focus, with all materials used being recyclable. Over 150 staff, mostly from the Liguria region, will be employed to cater to the event, which combines tradition with dynamic food and beverage offerings.

🍺 Heineken launched a global recruitment campaign to find a successor with the surname McLoughlin for Josie McLoughlin's pub on Achill Island, Ireland, established in 1870. Over 40% of Irish rural pub owners are considering retirement, yet 84% lack family successors. Heineken's campaign, created by LePub and Publicis Dublin, reaches out to 88 million people of Irish descent worldwide with billboards and ads in cities like New York, Boston, Sydney, Auckland, Buenos Aires, and Phan Thiết. The chosen "new McLoughlin" receives mentorship, business support, and initial investment advice. The initiative is part of Heineken's broader "For the Love of Pubs" campaign.

☕ At the Horeca ExpoForum in Turin, the 2025 Master Coffee Grinder Championship's first stage featured a new format engaging participants and the audience. Massimo Lugli won the analog coffee test with traditional tools and a Peruvian specialty roasted by Costadoro. Nadia Giacomelli led the technical trials with a time of 13'45". Tania Maifredi secured first place, advancing to the finals with Nadia. The event highlighted social responsibility, supporting the International Women's Coffee Alliance Italia and other initiatives. The next event is on May 25th in Vittoria (RG), Sicily.

☕ In 2024, global coffee prices soared by 38.8% due to extreme weather impacting major producers. Arabica beans spiked 58%, and Robusta surged 70% in December 2024. Vietnam saw a 20% production drop and a 10% export reduction, while Indonesia's production fell 16.5%, leading to a 23% export decrease. Brazil revised its forecast from a 5.5% increase to a 1.6% decrease. U.S. consumer prices rose by 6.6%, and the EU saw a 3.75% increase in December 2024 compared to 2023.