TOP NEWS

🏖️ In 10 years, holidaymakers choosing June or September for vacations tripled to nearly 15 million, with June tourists increasing from 2.5 to 6.8 million and those in September from 3.8 to 8 million. Agritourism in Italy saw over 11 million stays in 26,000 facilities in summer 2024, supported by wine, beer, and olive oil tourism trends. Eco-holidays doubled to 25% in a decade. Coldiretti/Ixè analysis shows Italy's agritourism businesses nearly doubled since 2014 (+84%) to 25,849, with a production value of €1.5 billion and 15.5 million presences in 2023, 58% foreigners. Average stay is 3.8 days, with foreigners staying longer (4.6 days) than Italians (3.1 days). Italians spend approximately €10 billion on food during holidays, and "root tourism" affects 60%, highlighting family origins and combating depopulation.

🍷 Lovely Wines' first Rome edition by AGB Selezione on September 23 at Palazzo Brancaccio showcased over 200 wine labels, attracting a thousand industry professionals. Massimo Ferrari, AGB's sole administrator, spoke on the wine sector's challenging period, shifting consumption habits, and the rising market demands for fresh, dynamic wines with reasonable alcohol content. New partnerships and entries, like Fabio Motta from Bolgheri and international producers Domaine Pierre Thibert, Villa Bon Accueil, and Penet-Chardonnet Grand Cru, were highlighted. AGB Selezione distributes wines from 49 companies, including over 300 labels, 18 Italian and 25 foreign, beyond its six owned Italian wineries.

🍷 Milano Wine Week 2024, in its 7th edition, will take place from October 5 to 13, featuring innovating events and a focus on engaging younger generations. Federico Gordini, president of Milano Wine Week and founder of MWW Group, emphasizes adapting to climate change and new consumer trends. The event doubles the number of sommeliers involved in the Wine List Italia guide from 50 to 100 and introduces Wine in Action, a program for wine startups focusing on sustainability. Partnerships include Carrefour Italy as the main sponsor for the third year. Activities for professionals are by reservation on the website milanowineweek.com, and tickets for the public are available on Vivaticket.

🍷 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.