Italian Trade Missions Showcase Authentic Italian Products Opportunity

SHARE:

Email

Print

LinkedIn

Facebook

Twitter

April 13, 2010

The Italian Trade Commission (ITC) is sponsoring multiple trade missions to Italy over the next few months, with the first one slated for Bari on April 18.

Participants in the April event –– Kehe Distributors, Tree of Life, Daymon Worldwide, Isola Imports and Glazer's Distributors –– will meet and sample products from 71 participating Italian store brand producers of olive oil, pastas, cheese, deli products, vinegars, snacks and nuts, baked products and wine.

Other trade missions from the U.S. are planned in central Italy (Modena, Bologna, and Parma) during the Cibus Trade Show in Parma, and in Tuscany in the early part of June, according to ITC.

All of the trade missions to Italy will focus on identifying leading Italian store brand food and wine manufacturers, and also “redefining the supply chain and the logistics to make imported Italian products as easy to procure as products from domestic vendors,” said Patrick Capriati, senior trade promotion officer at the Italian Trade Commission Chicago. This will involve exploring regional supply chain consortiums in Italy, establishing partnerships with U.S. manufacturers, and a more efficient utilization of U.S. importers and distributors to support store brand initiatives.

ITC’s focus on the U.S. market stems from research it conducted in November 2009 that confirmed the popularity of Italian foods and revealed untapped growth opportunities for authentic Italian store brand products. The study also identified that import supply chain issues and retailer understanding of what classifies products as “authentic Italian” must be addressed before the opportunity can be fully realized.

The success of Wegmans Italian Classics, A&P’s Via Roma, and Target’s new Giada De Laurentiis line “all validate what the ITC has learned –– each of these retailers is making their Italian-focused brands a key competitive point of difference,” Capriati said.

ITC will provide selected U.S. trade delegates with round-trip airline tickets, hotel accommodations, meals and local transportation.

Read These Related Articles:

• Research Reveals Untapped Profits in Authentic Italian Store Brands
• Profiles in Innovation: A&P's High Hopes for Premium Store Brands (Part 2 of 4)
• Supervalu Recalls Gourmet Store Brand Macaroni and Cheese
• Mintel: Store Brands Gain Ground Among Canadian Shoppers
• Nestle and Sara Lee Feel the Pinch of Store Brands and Deep Discounters

Most Read

Guest Columns

How to Develop a Private Label Expression Aligned with Retail Brand Strategy

By creating private label as a marketing tool rather than just a price alternative, retailers gain the opportunity to tell a complete brand story while simultaneously boosting customer loyalty.

Source: CBX

Using the Store Banner to Endorse Private Label Architecture

Although the economic downturn accelerated private label growth in Europe, there was another key driver -- retailers started to brand their stores.

Source: IPLC

Linking Your Empowered Customer into Your Store Brand Management Process

The formula for success is for retailers to take a holistic store brands management approach by collaborating with customers to maximize store brands potential.

Source: Austin Clark Group

See All Guest Columns »

Press Releases