Food trends

Gourmet food

THE BEST ITALIAN DRIED FRUIT

24/10/2022

If Fall is the season for harvest, October is its richest month when it comes to fresh fruit. Chestnuts, apples, pomegranates, pears and grapes: in Italy we have such a variety and abundance to suit every taste. Not many people know, though, that this autumnal month is the one that sees also a couple of dried fruits, considered as national excellences, getting ready for consumption: the hazelnut from Piedmont e the pistachio from Sicily. Recognized as the best in the world for its balanced flavor and a good production yield, the Tonda Gentile Trilobata (also known as PGI Piedmont Hazelnut)…

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Diet and nutrition, Food trends

BRESAOLA, A PORK-FREE ALTERNATIVE

30/09/2022

Prosciutto (ham), salame, pancetta: some of the most famous Italian cured meats are made with pork. Real top-quality food, prepared according to ancient methods rooted in our gastronomic tradition. The recent outspread of the African swine fever virus (ASFV), that is causing a severe disease in pigs and wild boars, is significantly impacting their sales. Furthermore, there are numerous countries in the world where the consumption of pork meat is not allowed for religious reasons. When it comes to keep enjoying food excellences though, Italy provides an alternative solution: it is called Bresaola and it is a cured beef from…

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Food trends

THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE AND ITS IMPACT ON PASTA

27/08/2022

After the doom and gloom of the last few months, the deal recently signed by Ukraine and Russia is a beacon of hope for grain exports. The agreement, that allows the resumption of vital grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports, is an important diplomatic breakthrough aimed at alleviating the global food crisis sparked by the war. As a matter of fact, so far Russia had blocked maritime access to those ports thus impeding the export of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain to the numerous countries that rely on it. Considering that in normal times Ukraine would export around…

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Food trends

ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS, NOT JUST MEATLESS MEAT

15/07/2022

Alternative proteins is a general name used to indicate all those ingredients, foods and beverages that contain proteins derived from non-animal sources. Considered crucial to nourish the world’s growing population while mitigating the effects of the climate crisis, alternative proteins also entail a range of processes that can replace animal protein production, including the three main ones: plant-based, fermentation-derived and cultivated food. If traditional fermentation processes have already been used to improve plant-based products (for example, to add taste and nutrition to plant-based steaks), foods produced with precision fermentation made their debut on the market last year: among them, ice…

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Diet and nutrition, Food trends

TRENDS IN ICE CREAM CONSUMPTION

08/07/2022

Although the global ice cream industry suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic due to supply chain disruptions, sales now seem to be on the rise again. In Italy and in the rest of Europe, the supply chain already bounced back in 2021 with a 25% upturn; now recent figures report that the global market - valued at USD113.82 billion in 2021 - is projected to register a CAGR of 6.47% during the next five years (2022 - 2027). If the current scenario in EMEA shows a per capita consumption of around 4.6kg yearly, the increased demand for quality convenience food among…

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Food trends

SUSTAINABLE GASTRONOMY DAY 2022

17/06/2022

Every year on 18th June, the world celebrates Sustainable Gastronomy Day. Observed for the first time in 2017, this celebration is led by the UN General Assembly, UNESCO and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The correct explanation of what sustainable gastronomy really is comes from FAO: “Gastronomy is sometimes called the art of food. It can also refer to a style of cooking from a particular region. In other words, gastronomy often refers to local food and cuisine. Sustainability is the idea that something (e.g. agriculture, fishing or even preparation of food) is done in a way that is…

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Diet and nutrition, Food trends

SUN-DRIED TOMATOES: A TASTY, VERSATILE AND FUNCTIONAL INGREDIENT

18/05/2022

Although the concept of functional foods originated in Japan back in the 1980s - when government agencies started approving foods with verified benefits, in an effort to improve the health of the general population – the topic is becoming more and more popular now that consumers all over the world are more conscious than ever about the food they purchase and eat. In a few words, functional foods are ingredients that offer health benefits which extend beyond their nutritional value: some are naturally healthier than others, some may contain supplements or other additional ingredients designed to improve health. The most…

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Food trends, Gourmet food

MOZZARELLA DI BUFALA, THE ULTIMATE FOOD EXPERIENCE

15/04/2022

For as much as it used to be a local delicacy, these days Buffalo mozzarella (PDO) - aka Mozzarella di Bufala DOP, in Italian - is one of the foods that people order automatically whenever they see it on a menu. Never mind if the restaurant is in Rome, Abu Dhabi, Shanghai or New York City. Creamy, flavorful and incredibly soft, it is the ultimate mouth-watering experience for dairy lovers all over the world. Mozzarella di Bufala DOP is a fresh cheese made with the milk of the domestic buffalo, typical of southern Italy. Buffalo’s milk is higher in calcium,…

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Food trends

NUTRISCORE: HOW A LABEL CAN INFLUENCE CONSUMERS

18/03/2022

Last month all the major newspapers reported the presentation of NutrInform Battery, the Italian proposal for the adoption of a common food labeling system at European level. Conceived and created by a working group made up of experts from four ministries (Health, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs and Economic Development), food scientists and representatives of the agricultural world and industry, the Nutrinform Battery aims at providing a fairer alternative to the Nutri-Score, the front-labelling system selected by the French government in March 2017. Following France - which selected Nutri-Score after a randomized control trial comparing four labels, conducted in real-world conditions -…

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Food trends, Gourmet food

STRACCIATELLA, THE TRENDIEST ITALIAN FRESH CHEESE

09/03/2022

Stracciatella is becoming more and more popular everywhere as chefs all over the world, who appreciate its taste and versatility, are featuring it on their menus. Despite the confusion that may be generated by its name - which defines also an egg-enriched soup and a chocolate-flecked ice-cream - Stracciatella is the trendiest of all the Italian fresh cheeses: a luscious, creamy cow's milk cheese made of shreds of mozzarella (to shred is stracciare, in Italian) mixed with cream. Possibly the best by-product made with mozzarella leftovers, Stracciatella originated in Puglia at the beginning of the last century; just like Burrata,…

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Diet and nutrition, Food trends

CELEBRATING PULSES: VERSATILE, NUTRITIOUS AND AFFORDABLE INGREDIENTS

10/02/2022

Following a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly back in 2013 and the International Year of Pulses organized by FAO in 2016, World Pulses Day has been celebrated every year on the 10th of February since 2019, when this day was chosen to raise public awareness of the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses as part of a sustainable food production. Under the theme “Pulses to empower youth in achieving sustainable agrifood systems”, this year’s celebration focusses on the fundamental role of younger generations to bridge the gap between traditional farming techniques and new technologies, in order to promote…

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Food trends

FOOD DELIVERY: PROS AND CONS OF A NEW TREND

31/01/2022

Back in 2020, during the hardest months of the pandemic when stay-at-home orders were imposed almost everywhere in the world, restaurants had to stop their dine-in activities. Many businesses had no option but to close, many others showed resilience by deciding to reinvent themselves. In this perspective, the delivery service became a business opportunity to be rapidly implemented in order to stay afloat. Despite the concern showed at first by consumers - who were worried about the transmission of COVID-19 via food delivery - this choice proved to be successful. Although during the several lockdowns people tended to prepare and…

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About Alifood

About Alifood

We strongly believe that everything we plan and do should create value, for both our clients and suppliers. We do not see ourselves as mere food traders.

The sale of the products we select is just the last step of a complex, structured process that is based on strong business relationships and, in many cases, real partnerships. Our job is made of several functions: sourcing the right product, selecting a reliable producer, managing the entire logistics chain, providing all the necessary documentation and certifications and following up all the after-sale requirements besides consulting and tutoring on how to best use each single product. We do all this because we strongly believe that everything we plan and do should create value, for both our clients and suppliers. Our familiarity with the Italian food an agricultural industry, developed over the last twenty years, gives us the ability to efficiently deal with all the diverse needs pertaining to different markets.

Thanks to our experienced, professional and multilingual global working team, matching international demand and local supply is what we do best.

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