Iniziativa eco-responsabile e CSR

📦 Fruttagel, an Italian agro-industrial cooperative, participates in Marca 2025 at Bologna Fiere on January 15-16, showcasing its Almaverde Bio brand. Committed to sustainability, Fruttagel uses compostable packaging certified by TÜV Austria to European standard UNI EN 13432:2002. Stanislao Fabbrino, president, highlights their transformation of 25% organic raw materials, while Giorgio Alberani, Commercial Director, emphasizes the company's focus on high-quality, sustainable Italian products. Fruttagel, founded in 1994, employs 700 workers, reached a turnover of over 155 million euros in 2023, and is a founding member of the Almaverde Bio Consortium.

🍷 Schenk Family Italia, a major player in the wine industry, is poised to invest in innovation and sustainability in response to a decree allowing production of non-alcoholic wines in Italy. Daniele Simoni, CEO, post-decree, sees this as an opportunity to bring production to Italy, enhancing competitiveness. Currently producing 50-80 thousand bottles in Spain with 25% sold in Italy, the company eyes economies of scale and flexibility with local production, targeting a market share of 2-3% and non-traditional wine consumers.

🍴 By 2025, restaurant experiences will be modular, inclusive, and focused on wellness with an emphasis on natural, healthy ingredients. Technological innovations such as TheFork Pay for bill splitting, AI for traffic prediction, prepayments, personalized experiences, smart inventory management reducing food waste by up to 20%, 3D food printing, dynamic pricing, and process automation will transform the industry. Ingredients will lean towards functional superfoods, natural beverages, and traditional dishes with contemporary twists, while unsustainable ingredients and overly complex menus are set to decline.

📊 Conserve Italia published its "Sustainability Report 2024" titled "Together to make a mark," continuing a triennial tradition since 2004. President Maurizio Gardini highlights the report's emphasis on collective efforts towards sustainable development, aligning with the UN 2030 Agenda. The cooperative, with a 20-year sustainability journey, has paid over €100 million to its members and invests in ethical management, training (34,475 hours through Conserve Italia Academy), and environmental initiatives, including an €86.6 million investment plan to be completed by 2026. Conserve Italia, headquartered in San Lazzaro di Savena (BO), leads Italian food processing with 14,000 producers, 500,000 tons of produce, €1.2 billion turnover, and 3,000 employees across 12 production plants.

📅 On January 15 and 16, Marca by BolognaFiere, the exclusive event for Organized Modern Distribution in Italy, will feature Melandri Gaudenzio (Hall 29, Stand C18) at Bologna's fair district. The company, a leader in the import, selection, packaging, and marketing of pulses, cereals, soups, and oilseeds from conventional and organic agriculture, will introduce Crunchy, a new natural snack, and a doypack line of Decorticated legumes. Melandri Gaudenzio, established in 1947, operates from a 12,500 sq. mt. facility in Bagnacavallo (RA), showcasing Industry 4.0 standards. Chef Fabrizio Mantovani will perform show cooking at the event, highlighting the versatility of the company's products.

🍷 Assoenologi introduces "Portami a Casa" to encourage responsible wine consumption and ensure road safety. Italian wine producers and restaurant owners will offer personalized shoppers to clients for safely taking home unfinished wine bottles, promoting moderate drinking and reducing the risk of drunk driving. This initiative preserves the wine tradition without compromising safety, responding to strict alcohol consumption regulations and the use of tools like alcolock.

🍕 Di Marco acquires a majority stake in Pizzami, a gluten-free pizza and bakery products specialist, with the Galati family retaining a minority share. Di Marco's revenue more than doubled in recent years, reaching €60 million in 2024, and distributes products in over 70 countries. Pizzami, based in Parma, is the third Italian producer of gluten-free pizza and bakery products. Di Marco also announced the establishment of Di Marco North America Corporation, aimed at the United States market.

☕ Julius Meinl, a Viennese coffee roastery with over 160 years of history, will attend the Sigep in Rimini, Italy, from January 18-22, 2025, at Pavilion B1 – Stand 034. They will showcase The Originals Bio Fairtrade line and introduce new 500g sustainable packages of Belvedere Blend, a 100% Arabica from Nicaragua and Honduras, and Danube Delight, an Arabica and Robusta blend from Nicaragua, Honduras, Peru, and Mexico. Andreas Hosp, CEO of Julius Meinl Italia, emphasized the brand's commitment to tradition, quality, and sustainability.

☕ The 14th edition of the "Master Universitario inter-ateneo in Economia e Scienza del Caffè – Ernesto Illy" started today, offering a comprehensive program supported by illycaffè and Fondazione Ernesto Illy. The master's program consists of 430 hours of lessons, taught by 60 experts, for 25 students from 18 countries, including Argentina, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Italy. Classes will begin online before transitioning to in-person in May 2025. Sixteen students receive financial aid, with 10 receiving full contributions and 6 partial, from the Fondazione Ernesto Illy. Since its inception, the Master has engaged over 272 alumni from more than 30 countries.

🌍 In Bolivia, the '200 años, 200 destinos' program launches, backed by nearly €28 million, as part of the Bicentennial. The country aims to certify 200 tourist sites and promote the 'Bolivia te espera' campaign. Despite a decrease in international arrivals to 1.96 million in 2024 from 2.19 million in 2023, Italy, the 5th largest European market, sees over 9,000 visitors, exceeding 2023's 8,700. The 'La Cordillera Experience' and Siarb collaborate on an archaeological project around Juan Miserendino's site.