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in italy, food is a passion and many producers strive to remain true to the tradition of quality and taste for which italian food is world famous.” Authentic Italian products draw consumers looking for quality fare Consumer statistics show that there is an ever-increasing demand for quality, authentic foods in Canada. Given that Italy has a long tradition of producing foods of the highest quality, retailers can benefit by offering authentic Italian food products in their stores to satisfy growing customer demand. When it comes to Made in Italy products, the substantial growth in imports speaks volumes. In the 10 years between 2007 and 2017, Canadian imports of Italian foods have increased by 70% from $702 million to $1.2 billion. From olive oil to coffee, pasta to chocolate, fish to tomato sauces, confectionery and beyond, Canadians increasingly seek Made In Italy food products to their grocery carts. “Italian food has always been popular but people are now beginning to realize there is a difference between Italianish (made in other parts of the world) and authentic Italian maintaining the historical essence of these foods and ingredients that Italians are so passionate about,” says Anthony Morello, president of Aurora Importing and Distributing, which provides the greatest number of leading authentic Italian brands in Canada. “We see a real thirst for knowledge from the Canadian consumer to want to know more about traditional Italian products, especially during festive entertaining seasons.” Joe Mannara, President of Concord Premium Meats (which carries Marcangelo authentic products—the number one imported brand of Italian deli meat to Canada), says consumers find something special about opening up a product developed, sliced and packaged in Italy. “For that moment when you’re sipping your wine and opening up that package of freshly sliced prosciutto, you feel like you’re in Parma or Tuscany,” he says.
Adding authentic Italian to your product offering doesn’t have to come at the expense of other domestic brands either, adds Mannara. “When it comes to deli meats, the category has expanded [with Italian imported items] and we’ve added millions of dollars of sales to the Canadian market in this category.” As the importers/distributors of products like Pan Ducale Cantuccini (a crunchy biscotti from Abruzzo) for more than 25 years, Excelsior Foods prides itself on providing authentic Italian foods that adhere to traditional, tried-and-true recipes. “In Italy, food is a passion and many producers strive to remain true to the tradition of quality and taste for which Italian food is world famous,” says Daniel Violante, Vice-President Sales and Marketing at Excelsior Foods. “We want to bring our clients an authentic—and delicious—Italian taste experience and sourcing from masters of the craft is one way to do this.” The Italian Trade Commission (ITC) has been partnering with Canadian retailers on a continuing basis [Page 2] to promote authentic Italian foods and increase the knowledge and appreciation of Made In Italy Foods in Canada. “Made In Italy foods have unique qualities that add value to discerning customers and hence to retailer shelves nationwide. These qualities, which are ever present both in the properties of the foods and their distinct flavours, are the result of a tradition of craftsmanship, the highest production standards and ideal climactic conditions. Together, these factors enhance all authentic Italian foods, separate them from imitation products and reward Canadian palates one bite at a time.” says Matteo Picariello, Italian Trade Commissioner. Retailers can find out more about the opportunities available with the Made In Italy campaign at: 416.598-1566; toronto@ice.it (Toronto) and 514.284.0265; montreal@ ice.it (Montreal). And be sure to follow @ITAToronto for additional information and content.
Special promotional feature in Canadian GroCer–noVemBer 2018