Exports, markets and growth strategies. Taking a food brand into more than 100 countries requires a strategy that balances identity, adaptation to local markets and consistency in positioning. The experience of Fabbri 1905 shows how the heritage of an Italian company can become an international competitive advantage, provided it is supported by innovation, a strong understanding of consumers and the careful selection of business partners.
In the first four months of 2026, EU agri-food trade showed an interesting signal: the surplus remained positive and increased slightly compared with the same period of the previous year, despite a slowdown in exports. According to the European Commission, between January and April 2026 the EU agri-food trade balance reached 15.6 billion euro, up 233 million euro compared with 2025.
The new EU rules on Listeria monocytogenes strengthen controls on ready-to-eat foods, with important implications for producers, importers and distributors, particularly in categories such as sliced cured meats, dairy products, ready meals, chilled prepared foods and processed fish. The key issues are shelf-life, HACCP, environmental monitoring and technical documentation: essential elements for ensuring food safety, regulatory compliance and trust in business relationships with buyers, retailers and international markets that increasingly focus on quality and documented supplier traceability.
The premium segment continues to play an important role in European consumption, but its meaning is changing. Even though the cost of living remains a major concern, consumers are not necessarily giving up high-end products. Instead, they are becoming more selective about when it is worth spending more.
From 30 December 2026, the EU Regulation on deforestation-free products, known as the EUDR, will start to apply to large and medium operators. For most micro and small operators, application is scheduled for 30 June 2027.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has published the updated 2026 guidance agenda for its Human Foods Program, outlining the guidance documents under development and the priority areas of interest for the food sector. The document confirms an increasingly clear direction from U.S. regulators, with growing attention to ingredients, food and color additives, chemical contaminants and substances used in food contact materials.
The Italian black truffle sauce market is emerging as one of the most interesting segments in the international premium condiments landscape. According to estimates by Growth Market Reports, the global value of the sector reached 1.22 billion dollars in 2025 and could reach 2.31 billion dollars by 2034, with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 7.3% over the forecast period. In addition to market data, the second part of the article includes a concise guide for buyers, designed to help assess the different product types and how they can be marketed across different sales channels.
From 14 to 16 December 2026, Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center will host Natural World Expo Saudi, an event dedicated to natural, sustainable and wellness-oriented products. The exhibition brings to Saudi Arabia the expertise of GL Middle East, the team behind the Middle East Organic & Natural Products Expo in Dubai, an established event with over 23 years of experience in the organic and natural products sector.
From 16 to 18 November 2026, Dubai World Trade Centre will host the Middle East Organic & Natural Products Expo, a B2B trade event dedicated to organic, natural and halal products. In its 23rd edition the event confirms its role as a strategic trade platform for companies looking to develop new business opportunities across the MENA region and the GCC markets.
From interactive TV to nutrition, recipe and sports apps, from smart carts to connected packaging, food marketing is moving closer to the moments when people choose, buy and consume products. Let us look at the new communication channels and platforms emerging in the food and beverage sector.
'Nduja, a Calabrian speciality with a strong territorial identity, is gaining an increasingly relevant role among high-value Italian gastronomic products. Originally a spicy spreadable salami linked to Calabria's rural tradition, it is now increasingly used in restaurants, gourmet recipes and retail channels dedicated to typical and premium products.
Consumers are looking for foods and beverages that help them feel better, stay in shape, have more energy, support digestion and look after their long-term wellbeing. At the same time, many health-related messages are starting to look alike or compete for attention on the same product, with a counterproductive effect. Protein, fibre, gut health, energy, immunity, focus, sugar reduction and healthy ageing have become increasingly common themes on packaging, as well as across social media, websites, trade publications and sales materials.
In the food sector, production flexibility is becoming increasingly connected to packaging. Distributors and retailers are asking for broader assortments, dedicated versions, different formats, channel-specific packs and faster response times. For food producers, this means rethinking lines with a different approach, one that can manage variants without losing efficiency.
Electrolytes are moving beyond the sports and fitness niche and entering a new phase of everyday consumption. A clear signal comes from UK retail, where Tesco recorded 175% growth in sales volumes for hydration and electrolyte products over the past year. This figure confirms that the category is becoming increasingly relevant not only for specialist brands, but also for beverage manufacturers, functional ingredient companies and F&B distributors.
In the food & beverage industry, a brand's longevity is no longer enough, by itself, to create value. As the following examples show, for producers, distributors, importers and international buyers, company history becomes truly relevant when it translates into tangible assets: continuity, recognizable quality, capacity for innovation, distribution strength, production investment, adaptation to new consumption patterns and commercial support across markets.
The Pizza Pasta & Italian Food Show will take place from 25 to 27 May 2026 at ICC Sydney, bringing a dedicated trade focus on pizza, pasta and authentic Italian flavours to one of Australia’s most dynamic foodservice markets.
- Petra Molino Quaglia: stone-milled flours and certified sustainability for international markets
- Inventory management and demand forecasting with AI: key applications in the food & beverage sector
- Italian pasta exports approach EUR 4 billion: market data and opportunities for buyers and importers
- Ready-to-eat and food-to-go: why retail and foodservice are converging