TOP NEWS

🍷 From October 11 to 20, the second edition of DOLO-VINI-MITI will be held in Trentino, Italy, showcasing high-altitude wines and mountain products of Val di Cembra and Val di Fiemme. Over 20 events include masterclasses, aperitifs with Dolomites views, thematic conferences and performances, and the Wine Trekking Gourmet experience. The festival highlights the terraced vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and features a folkloristic dinner through private cellars and gourmet dishes by starred chefs.

🍪 Loacker, an Italian confectionery company, celebrates a century of natural goodness with over 110 countries presence. Founded by Alfons Loacker in Bolzano, the company boasts a global turnover of 435.45 million euros. The centennial celebration began in Milan with a press conference hosted by the Loacker family's third generation: Ulrich Zuenelli, Andreas Loacker, and Martin Loacker, who presented a review of the first 100 years and future projects. These celebrations include a “100% natural goodness” campaign and a multi-year partnership with Legambiente for urban regeneration. Loacker also collaborates with street artist Alessandro Conti and launches a commemorative packaging available until the end of 2025.

🍷 Mattia Cipriani, born in 1996, from Capalbio, won the eighth edition of "MIX FACTOR – Relicario Experience" with his cocktail "El Diablo Cojuelo". The competition, held at Spazio Mercanti – Barman Online, had 8 finalists who created original cocktails using one of four Ron Relicario as the base. The winner earned a Study Trip to Barcelona, a Ron Relicario Supremo gift box, and a collaboration opportunity with Mercanti di Spirits. Noemi Desiree Amato and Dylan Lewis Gosso secured second and third places, winning a Relicario Peated Finish box and a Relicario Vermouth Finish box, respectively.

🏥 Wizzair invested €38 million in a new 2500 square meter Training Center at Leonardo da Vinci airport in Fiumicino, 6 minutes walk from Terminal 1. Two simulators are already installed, a third to arrive by 2025. The facility can train up to 150 pilots daily on high-tech machines simulating A320 aircraft. The center aims to expand training to crews and maintenance sectors. Marco Troncone, CEO of Adr, notes the demand for over half a million new pilots globally, with 150,000 in Europe.

🌍 In Italy, 56% of couples express a desire for solo vacations to avoid family arguments and have travel freedom, with 56% of divorced individuals echoing this sentiment. Scotland's west coast (51%), Reykjavik (45%), and Osaka (34%) are top destinations. Men (66%) are more likely than women (61%) to plan solo trips, especially following a breakup (25% vs. 22%). Over 1 in 7 Italians prefer more luxurious holidays than their peers, with 29% willing to spend over €1000 on a solo trip, favoring a one-week duration (41%). B&Bs are the accommodation of choice for 34%, while competitive flight deals (50%) and easy booking (34%) are key for travel planning.

🍞 L'Accademia dei Maestri del Lievito Madre e del Panettone Italiano ha aperto la Scuola Internazionale del Lievito Madre a Bologna. Presieduta da Maestro Claudio Gatti, l'istituto mira a essere centro di eccellenza per professionisti e appassionati di prodotti lievitati. Offre corsi professionali in vari ambiti come Lievitati per la Prima Colazione e Grandi Lievitati di Ricorrenza, sperimentando nuove ricette e tecniche. La Scuola, diretta da Stefano Laghi, si trova in via Cesare Gnudi, 5, e dispone di 180 metri quadrati attrezzati con tecnologie avanzate. Corsi disponibili anche in inglese, spagnolo e francese su prenotazione, accogliendo professionisti internazionali. Sponsor includono AFA Arredamenti, Agostoni, e altri.

📊 AstraRicerche survey for Unione Italiana Food in summer 2024 shows 57% of Italians unfamiliar with "IV gamma" (fresh packaged produce). Yet, 78% buy regularly, 33% 2-3 times a month, and 45% weekly. Misconception: 75% think these contain preservatives. Bagged salads are most popular (73%), followed by ready-to-cook veggies (67%). Main reasons for purchase: convenience and time saving (52%). 87% consume these products at home; 51% believe they reduce food waste.

🍷 On September 27, the international conference "The Wine & Spirits Sector: Creating Value in a Spirit of Moderation" took place in Siracusa, highlighting the sector's importance for agricultural communities, consumers, and businesses. The EU wine industry contributed €130 billion to GDP and nearly 3 million jobs, 1.4% of the EU's total employment in 2022. Globally, wine spans 7.2 million hectares with an export value of €36 billion, while the spirits industry added $110 billion in direct and indirect value in the top 20 economies, with farmers receiving half, and generated a tax revenue of $33 billion.

🏖 Garibaldi Hotels experienced a significant growth during the April-October period in 2024, with a 15% increase in revenue in Sicily, 7-8% growth in Sardinia, and over 10% in mountain regions. Despite the Italian market slowdown, particularly in the mid-season's five weeks, the trend reversed in September and October. General Manager Fabrizio Prete highlighted the substantial contribution from foreign clientele to the company's success, noting that by August 30, revenue had already surpassed the total for the same period in 2023, with approximately 50 selling days remaining.

🍴 During the summer of 2024 (June-August), tourists in Italy spent €11.7 billion on dining, part of a total expenditure of €62 billion, with FIPE revealing these statistics on World Tourism Day. Italy saw a 1.6% increase in tourist presence to 215 million, boosted by a 4% rise in foreign visitors from the previous year. Lino Enrico Stoppani, President of FIPE, underscores the need to recognize dining enterprises as tourist businesses to enhance Italy's overall tourism quality.