Innovazione

🍰 Maestro Nicola Fiasconaro attended an event at the Italian Embassy in Prague and the Italian Institute of Culture on March 31, under the enogastronomic event "L'italiano in cucina." The event highlighted Italian gastronomic excellence extending to the International Space Station. Fiasconaro, with pastry chef Giuseppe Bonomo, showcased a unique dessert featuring Easter colomba with manna cream and caramel, almond praline, and a mini-almond treat, inspired by Fiasconaro’s desserts carried on NASA's Discovery Shuttle in 2007. Guests also tasted dishes designed for astronauts, like lemon risotto and polenta with mushrooms, using space mission ingredients, merging culinary innovation with traditional flavors.

🍺 Heineken® introduces "Bar Dating," a web app that combines dating app experiences with discovering new eateries. Over 73% of young Italians frequent the same venues, while 49% crave variety; 20% fear group disapproval, and 18% find agreement difficult. Around 50% find their social life less fulfilling, wishing for more excitement. The web app mirrors dating apps' swiping feature to find new bars. Events will launch the app in Rome and Milan on May 9-10 and 16-17. Tommaso Zorzi, a TV host and digital creator, promotes exploring new locales. Bar Dating aims to enhance social life and support bars. The service is free and accessible at https://bardating.heineken.com/.

🍷 Distilleria Negroni introduces Rad Gin, featuring Radicchio Rosso di Treviso IGP, at Vinitaly. The company, pioneering radicchio infusions since the 1970s with Amaro Trevisano, expands its offerings including Gin G with Uva Fragola and two new bitters—Spicy Bitter and Bitter Cacao. Founded in 1925 after Guglielmo Negroni received support from composer Giuseppe Verdi, the distillery moved to Treviso Province in 1965 and was acquired by the Palla family in 1993.

📢 HotelPartner Revenue Management collaborates with the Berlin School of Economics and Law to support digitalization and young talent, focusing on AI, career, and cooperation. The partnership includes an event at the ITB trade fair in Berlin, organized by Prof. Dr. Sandra Rochnowski, showcasing research and projects from dual study program students. Founded in 2006, HotelPartner provides custom revenue management in Europe, employs 70 experts, and serves around 500 partner hotels. The company promotes education and innovation, combining academic expertise with practical experience for sustainable industry innovation.

💰 Milan, with 43% of Italy's Tax-Free Shopping spend, sees a +10% year-over-year increase. The U.S. leads extra-EU nationalities with 17.8% of Design Week tourism demand. The most sought-after dates are April 8 and 11, 2025. Arab tourists top spending volumes at 16%, surpassing the Chinese at 12%. Chinese visitors spend the most per receipt (€1,982), followed by U.S. tourists (€1,756). Milan's central station area is the most popular, and the Fashion & Clothing sector accounts for 80% of Tax-Free Shopping.

💡 Rancilio Group introduces iSteam Pro, an automatic steam wand compatible with Rancilio Classe 20 and Rancilio Specialty Invicta coffee machines. It allows operators to adjust milk frothing temperature and texture, store up to 10 custom recipes, and activate it with a touch. The iSteam Pro, equipped with a pre-purge function for convenience and maintenance, streamlines workflow, ensuring speed and consistency in milk-based beverage preparation. Available as an optional accessory, it can be installed on either or both sides of the compatible machines.

🍷 At Vinitaly in Veronafiere (April 6-9), 111 businesses from the Irpinia Sannio area, led by the Chamber of Commerce, will demonstrate Italy's highest rate of female-led wine enterprises, with nearly 40% being women-owned. Avellino leads with 46% of its 848 wineries female-run, while Benevento follows with 42%, focusing on Sannio's DOPs like Falanghina and Aglianico del Taburno. The district produces 35 million bottles annually, worth €120 million, with exports up 7% at €29 million in 2024, largely to the U.S., accounting for 30% of shipments. The area boasts several DOP and IGP designations, including Aglianico del Taburno DOCG and Falanghina del Sannio DOC.

🌿 Verys introduces new 100% plant-based "Fettine" slices in Mozzarella and Scamorza variants in 2025, targeting vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians. These allergen-free slices, without milk, lactose, or animal derivatives, offer a shelf-life of 75 days, versatility in use, and are made from Italian organic rice through a patented process. Verys' commitment to quality and sustainability is evident in their production, using high-quality ingredients and eco-friendly practices. More information can be found at www.verys.it.

🛒 Retail Hub compares Italian and French organized retail markets, highlighting differences in market structure, consumer habits, technology adoption, and customer experience management. In France, over 50% of the market is controlled by cooperatives with a participative approach, while Italy maintains a more vertical management. French supermarkets offer dining facilities and specialized segments, with online grocery accounting for 10% of the market, mainly through click & collect. Italy, however, leads in autonomous stores with the first fully automated, cashier-less store. Italian online grocery stands at 3%, with a focus on home delivery. Retail Hub facilitates learning from France's retail advancements to enhance Italy's unique potential through innovation.

🍝 Unilever Food Solutions launched Maizena Express, a gluten-free instant thickener for professional catering. The product thickens creams and sauces in one minute, retains original flavors due to its neutral taste, and is ready to use, optimizing kitchen time and resources. Available in 1 kg packages, sold in boxes of 6. The range includes various thickeners, such as Maizena Amido di Riso, Maizena Amido di Mais, Knorr Roux Bianco e Bruno, Maizena Snowflake, and a versatile hot and cold binder—all gluten-free and some lactose-free, with packaging from 600 g to 20 kg. Unilever Food Solutions operates in over 70 countries, supported by over 250 professional chefs, with products designed for professional kitchens.