If people the world over refer to ice cream as ‘gelato’, using the Italian word or, when they have a coffee when they’re out, usually order an ‘espresso’, there must be a reason. The answer lies in the sheer ability that companies in the sector have shown, transforming our great socializing tradition into a leading industry on a global scale, both from the food point of view, using quality ingredients, and in terms of goal-oriented machinery.
Leadership that is reflected in HostMilano –the International Hospitality Exhibition, happening this year at the Fieramilano fairground in Rho from Friday 23rd to Tuesday 27th October, the world’s most important exhibition for the HO.RE.CA., foodservice, retail, large-scale distribution and hotel industries.
In fact, of the three synergic macro-areas which form the unique exhibition concept, the one comprising Coffee/Tea (including SIC –the International Coffee Event), Bar/Coffee machines/Vending and Gelato-Pastry plays a key role, together with the areas focusing on Food Service Equipment and Bread/Pasta/Pizza and Furniture and Tableware.
The sector of Gelato-Pastry –where Italy is the undisputed world leader and heads the trend towards internationalization of equipment – will be attendingHost2015 with all the quality ingredients for creating superlative gelato, desserts and chocolate, with refrigerated counters and all the different types of machinery that encourage more creative, more original processing. There will also be a dedicated space for products to make yoghurt, soft gelato and chocolate.
The top Italian and international players in the sector will be there in the macro-area: Alcas, Anselli, Babbi, Bras Internazionale, Bravo, Bussy, Carpigiani Group – Ali, Cartoprint, Cesarin, Chocolaterie Monbana, CIAM, Comprital, Crystal Freezers&Coolers, Distillerie Camel, Elenka, Fabbri 1905, Frigomat, Frigomeccanica, Galatea, Gel-Matic Italia, IFI, Ipsa, Isa, JoséJulio Jordão, Lacteos Industriales Agrupados, Krampouz, Leagel, Martellato, Optima – Mec3, Mussana Montapanna, Hans Kratt Maschinenfabrik, Novacart, Nutkao, Pavoni Italia, PCB Creation, Pomati Group, Pregel, Prodotti Rubicone, Scatolificio del Garda, Scotton, S.P.M. Drink Systems, Selmi, Silikomart, Taddia, Telme, Toschi Vignola, Ugolini, Ugur Sogutma Makinalari, Unigrà and Valmar Global.
There will also be many exciting events that will help to make Host2015 a privileged observatory on future trends. From contests like the World Trophy of Pastry, Ice cream and Chocolate and the Cake Designers World Championship organized by FIP – the Italian Federation of Pastry Gelato and Chocolate, at the Arena Dolce, promoted by FIPE –the Italian Retail Business Federation, with the top masters of these arts demonstrating their experience live in three distinct areas (Typical desserts, Pastry – chocolate and Gelato).
The following countries have already enrolled for the cake design contest: Ukraine, Sweden, Serbia, Russia, Italy, Spain, Venezuela, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, France, Hungary, Cuba, Tunisia, Peru, and theU.S.A.; those who have entered the World Trophy of Pastry, Ice cream and Chocolate are as follows: Italy, France, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Japan, Turkey, Poland, Algeria, Rumania, Mexico, Thailand, Austria, Tunisia, Chile and Peru. As a corollary to the championships, the master chefs present will give demonstrations of their artistic skill.
And there’s more. Also taking place in the Arena Dolce promoted by FIPE – the Italian Retail Business Federation, Master Gelato chefs will be taking part in a dense program, with a pace worthy of television, to demonstrate the myriad ways in which chocolate can be used. They will also be trying to break the record of the Guinness Book of Records for the greatest number of tubs of ice cream with different chocolate-based flavors. Champion pastry chefs, on the other hand, will be tackling the Milanese cake par excellence, the Panettone, partly as a tribute to Expo, reflecting the Universal Exposition’s aims to spread information about typical, unique types of local food on an international scale.
Overall, the sectors represented in the macro-areas constitute an important slice of the HO.RE.CA. sector, including many Italian firms at the top.
In the Machinery for Ice cream sector, in 2014, ANIMA-Assofoodtec reported a turnover of 318 million euro, +2.6% over 2013, and, for 2015, has estimated further growth of +0.9% to321 million euro. Last year exports accounted for 73% (233 million euro)of business volumes whereas, for the current year, exports are expected to rise to74% (239 million), approximately three quarters of the total.
The segment of plant for the Confectionery Industry ended 2014 with an overall turnover of more than 120 million euro (121.5) deriving almost entirely from exports (94%,equal to 114.5 million euro). These figures are expected to be confirmed this year, with an even higher contribution from exports (95%). Some of the most eager markets to buy Italian machines are China(+149%), Japan (+104%), South Africa (+93%) but also traditional markets such as Canada(+99%), Spain (+42%) and Germany (+34%).
