This year the Italian Pavilion is once again the big star of the California food show.

 54 companies and 10,000 square feet of surface area – these are the numbers for the Italia Pavilion at Winter Fancy Food 2018, now in full swing at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

 From January 21 to 23, the world of high-quality distribution is in attendance at this U.S. West Coast event for its annual meeting with industry workers.

 Under the banner “The Extraordinary Italian Taste,” food companies from nearly every region of Italy will present the best in pasta, cheeses, olive oil, salami and much more, to the world of large distribution, to the biggest names in the retail market and to the restaurant world.

The goal is to reach American consumers with the genuine goodness that is typical of Italian products.

 The Fancy Food Winter Show is the largest commercial event dedicated to food specialties on the West Coast.

 A highly satisfying event for exhibitors, literally stormed by buyers and insiders.

 A boom in attendance for the Italia lounge, with its cooking shows.

 “We’re glad to have Italy as our main partner for the Winter Fancy Food Show,” says Phil Kafarakis, President of the Specialty Food Association, the show’s owner and producer.

“American consumers today are looking for authentic foods with exceptional flavor and quality, and these characteristics are highlighted by the Italian companies presenting exceptional products from every region in the country.”

 “At this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show, the ICE (Italian Trade & Investment) Agency in New York invited 15 buyers/importers from the East Coast and the Midwest to increase trade opportunities for the 54 companies in the Italia Pavilion, once again the largest presence among the foreign participants,” states Maurizio Forte, Director of the ICE Agency in New York and coordinator of the USA network. 

“A very precise choice aimed at improving the connection between the Italian companies at the show and several dynamic American industry professionals, carefully selected, as interested in new products and new partnerships.

“We should point out the ongoing increase in the Italian export of Food & Beverage to the U.S. which hit 4% in the first 11 months of 2017,” continues Maurizio Forte.

“Italy has proven to be the foremost supplier of olive oil (+3%), pasta (+2.4%), cheeses (-0.2%), mineral water (+12.2%) and balsamic vinegar (-2%).

“We are always very pleased to participate in Fancy Food,” Maurizio Forte concludes, “and to collaborate actively with the Specialty Food Association.”

 “We are truly proud of the work that’s been done,” declared Donato Cinelli, President of Universal Marketing, the exclusive Italian agent of the Specialty Food Association. “Today, the United States truly represents the ideal place to highlight Italian companies to the utmost; our Made in Italy is an integral part of the culture of beauty that Americans are seeking.

“Winter Fancy Food is a winning bet,” Cinelli continues, “and to our great satisfaction, we’ve noted the support of the biggest players in Italian Food.

“In the United States and at Winter Fancy Food in San Francisco, these companies will find the positive reception and quality that has distinguished our work in North America and the world for more than thirty years.”