Innovazione

🍳 Starting in 2025, the Federazione Italiana Cuochi and Ballarini Professionale will partner to support culinary professionals with cutting-edge tools and services. Ballarini's Kerastone coatings are known for durability and abrasion resistance, complemented by materials like versatile white aluminum and multilayered steel ensuring even heat distribution. Ergonomic handles and special pot bases provide stability and reduce fatigue. Their Full Induction collections offer optimal compatibility with induction cooktops, boasting scratch-resistant and detachable bases that maximize thermal efficiency. Ballarini Professionale will also be the Main sponsor of the Nazionale Italiana Cuochi (NIC), promoting Italian culinary excellence globally.

📈 Diageo's "Distilled 2025" report, based on AI analysis of over 160 million online conversations, identifies key trends shaping future socialization: a 79% increase in discussions around balanced lifestyles and "zebra striping" consumption pattern; a desire for unique experiences with an 83% rise in talk about exclusive products and events; a jump in AI adoption discussions by 83% globally, 96% in Europe and 91% in North America; and a 121% growth in conversations about passionate communities, highlighting over 32 million mentions. Developed with Share Creative and Kantar, using the Foresight System™ AI platform.

☕ SCA Italy announced the official equipment partners for the Italian Barista Championships at SIGEP: Cimbali will provide the coffee machine for the Latte Art competition with the new M200 GT1, and Fiorenzato will supply the F83E PRO grinder for the Latte Art and Coffee in Good Spirits championships for the 2025-2026 biennium. La San Marco won the bid for the Coffee in Good Spirits category, introducing the iconic 100 model for 2025-2026. The partnerships aim to enhance the presence on the COFFEE ARENA stage and to support the professional baristas in showcasing their talent.

🤖 Robomagister, founded in 2022 in Emilia by Massimiliano Delsante and Stefano Pedrazzi, unveils LIFFO, the first fully automatic AI-powered kitchen robot, set to launch in 2025. Showcased at CES Las Vegas, LIFFO offers a Personal Chef experience, preparing meals without supervision, keeping ingredients fresh up to 24 hours. Supported financially by the founders with €2.15 million, Banca Progetto with €3.1 million, and Banco BPM with €2 million, Robomagister plans to hire over 100 people in the next three years.

☕ Starbucks Reserve™ Roastery Milano introduced the Pistachio Praline Oat Latte, an entirely plant-based beverage, reimagining the classic Pistachio Praline Latte. The new recipe features an Arabica espresso with creamy oat milk, emulsified pistachio praline, and a crunchy garnish of pistachio crumble and cane sugar. This inclusive menu addition aligns with Starbucks' philosophy, offering innovative plant-based choices without price distinctions. The Roastery, at Piazza Cordusio's historic Palazzo Broggi, spans 2300 sqm with several bars and an outdoor terrace.

🍔 Burger King Restaurants Italia closed 2024 with 14 new openings in December, reaching a total of 104 directly owned restaurants. Pomezia opened a 414 sqm restaurant with 140 seating places and a “Play King” area, employing 21 people. Trezzano sul Naviglio's establishment measures 102 sqm, providing 70 seats and a staff of 24. Overall, Burger King has 294 restaurants across Italy, 190 franchised, serving over 20 million Italians. They continue to offer a wide selection of quality products and emphasize digital innovation for customer convenience.

🍕 Sorì, a leader in the international dairy industry, collaborates with renowned pizzaiolo Ciro Salvo to create "Bella," a new type of mozzarella di bufala designed specifically for pizza. "Bella" maintains the authentic taste of buffalo mozzarella while containing less liquid, ensuring a perfect bake. This innovation allows pizzaioli to achieve a crispy and flavorful pizza base without compromising on the unique taste of buffalo mozzarella.

🏨 Guest Experience Assistants (GEA) are emerging as vital professionals in luxury hotel hospitality, tasked with tailoring guest experiences and embodying the brand's philosophy and values. These often multilingual young graduates handle guests from arrival through post-check-out feedback. GEAs avoid traditional reception desk interactions, instead welcoming guests from the parking area and overseeing a continuous exchange of information, appointments, and service organization. Their skills in cross-selling, up-selling, and understanding guest expectations are enhanced by technology and artificial intelligence, revolutionizing internal communication and guest relations, ultimately impacting hotel reputation and revenue.

🌽 Il Consorzio di Tutela dell'olio extravergine Toscano Igp prevede una produzione destinata a Igp di 50mila quintali nel 2025, superando i 32mila del 2023 e i 42mila del 2022. Il presidente Fabrizio Filippi introduce QR code per la tracciabilità del prodotto. La raccolta si è conclusa il 15 dicembre 2024 con rese inferiori (-3,5%) a causa della pioggia, ma la qualità elevata dell'olio Toscano Igp e la domanda cresciuta compensano i costi di produzione maggiorati.

🎉 Claudio Alessandro Musiani and Nicolò Ribuffo, partners in Sentaku Izakaya – Sentaku Concept in Bologna, Italy, draw from their Japan experiences—Musiani visited for nearly a month, while Ribuffo lived there for almost three years—to infuse authenticity into their izakaya-style venue. Over 80% of ingredients are sourced directly from Japan. Their drink list, featuring creations like Nippo Champagne and Bloody Japan, has garnered media attention and led to being ranked in the Top 500 Bars within a year. Drink menu changes are anticipated by the end of January.