Quality at the right price is the card Italy's playing at SIAL

Working as a team is winning model say entrepreneurs in Paris

By: ansa.it

Oct 21 2024
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Quality at the right price is

Exporting quality at the right price, with the whole sector working as a team - this is the key to the success of Italian agrifood businesses, according to the many companies taking part in the SIAL international food fair that is running in Paris until October 23.
    Laurent Noel, the director general of Divisione Network Comexposium, said the event was "a love story between France and Italy, which is the country with most participants". "Italy is seen as a producer of quality and the companies have kept that quality at the right price are on the market", said Rocco Colacchio, the president of Confindustria Vibo Valentia, who recalled the export difficulties of the last four years due to Covid, high energy costs, wars and the closure of the Suez Canal, which has raised transport costs and times.
    "We are facing up to all of this and giving a hand to importers, lowering our margins a little, in part because of the high cost of energy. All the world's food products today cost 10% to 15% more than 4 years ago." According to Gennaro Velardo, the Vice Presidente of Edamus-Italian Food Village, "unity is what makes us strong.
    "Being together gives us an extra something," Velardo added.
    "We have an important thing to face, which is the market: if we get there together, with the conservation industry, the fruit and vegetable markets and large-scale retail, we have greater strength".
    Sabato D'Amico, the CEO of the Tradizione Italiana consortium, which is made up of 17 Italian food-excellence firms with revenues in the billions, 45% of which comes from exports, and 38 plants in all of Italy's regions, was on the same wavelength.
    "It is clear that, if we move together with the world's large-scale distribution groups, we can offer our products with a guarantee of satisfying the needs of the markets", said D'Amico.
    "We were founded with the aim of going abroad together and taking with us 'made in Italy.' and therefore the tradition of 'doing it Italian-style', of food made in Italy".
    Vincenzo Fiasconaro, the commercial chief for Italy of Fiasconaro, a Sicilian confectionery company present in 52 countries, stressed the importance of team work in which importers become partners.
    "It has not been easy with the problems we have had in recent years and continue to have," said Fiasconaro.
    "But with everyone's commitment, perseverance and teamwork, making our customers partners, we have been able to keep going with a certain degree of tranquillity".