The numbers have certified the success of the return of the in-person TUTTOFOOD. We directly asked exhibitors, who often come from other European countries or overseas, who came to the event to resume live relations with their stakeholders and develop new business opportunities for their feedback.

Giuseppe Caterina represents Frantoio Muraglia, an oil mill in Puglia - from Andria, in particular - specialised in fruity, organic and aromatic olive oils, with a careful eye on traceability: “We had no expectations whatsoever when we came to TUTTOFOOD this year. It was a bit of a gamble, but we wanted to be present after two years of the pandemic. In general, the result is very positive, and we went home with a lot of contacts, both Italian and foreign, on which we will have to work in the coming months”.

Some people participated for the first time this year with great courage and intuition from Italy or abroad. This is the case of the consortia for Gragnano pasta and Campania buffalo mozzarella. They have joined forces, as the Head of Promotion of the Consortium for the Protection of Gragnano Pasta, Giovanni Cafiero, explains: “We decided to participate for the first time, and we did it together. The goal was to make the unique characteristics of our products known, especially to foreign audiences, from a system perspective and to help them understand how pasta and mozzarella are actually 'glocal' products: they originate in Campania. Still, they lend themselves to being interpreted and included in the kitchens of the world. We are delighted with this first experience; we will surely come back in the next years”.

One sector in which Italian producers of excellence have found themselves side by side with foreign companies is Dairy. A strongly international market on which Santangiolina, a cooperative of Lombardy breeders that combines tradition with innovation, still relies. It has been marketing its products directly for a few years and has chosen TUTTOFOOD for the first time for the “big jump” of the brand. Director Martin Sanna comments: “This was our first time taking part and we are thrilled. There was great interest from international buyers for our PDOs, particularly for our fresh '”flower crusted” cheeses, which are 100% Italian products. It was a unique opportunity for us, as up to now we almost only sold in Italy”.

Companies from all over the world will develop the growth opportunities offered by the event in the coming months. The TUTTOFOOD and Fiera Milano teams have the task of preparing an even more stylish 2023 edition.