In occasion of Seatrade Cruise Global (14th-17th March 2016), the Premier Global Event  dedicated to maritime and cruise industry that features exhibitors and attendees from around the world, IACC will assist the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari (Sardinia-Italy) in the promotion of Sardinia as a tourist destination. 

The Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast (IACC) is in charge of the selection of local restaurants in the Southeast of the United States serving authentic Italian cuisine, for the certification of those eligible for the “Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana” which is conferred only to the best and authentic Italian restaurant annually.

Restaurants’ owners interested in receiving this official certification from the Italian Government, should contact Mr. Andrea Paglialunga at paglialunga@iaccse.com.

The award ceremony will take place at the end of May and more the 200 guests every year attend it. Generally the Consul General of Italy consign the golden plaques to the owners and chefs of the certified restaurants.

On Wednesday February 10th 2016, will take place the 6th edition of the event “Simply Italian Great Wines” (www.simplyitaliangreatwines.com)  taking place at the suggestive Freedom Tower in Downtown Miami.

The IACC will be present at this event bringing new buyers who will have the chance to enjoy offerings, seminars, and hundreds of labels from various Italian wineries and regions. This is a unique opportunity to taste the best wine Italy has to offer.

South Florida’s hospitality professionals (restaurants’ owners, sommeliers, wine distributors, and specialized media) can register to the event for free by February 5th sending an e-mail with their contact information (name, title, company, telephone, e-mail) to info@iaccse.com.

Let us know also if you are interested in having an exhibition table and we will try to accommodate your last minute request.

A campaign has been launched in North America to promote authentic Italian food products

Italy is the European country with the largest number of DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) and IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) food products recognized by the European Union. A demonstration of the excellent quality of our products and above all of the strong bond linking the Italian foods to their territory of origin.

The EU’s system of Geographical Indications, in fact, fosters the production system and the local economy; it protects the environment, since the inextricable link with the territory of origin requires the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity.

At the same time, thanks to the European Certification greater guarantees are given to consumers through a level of traceability and food safety standards higher than other products.

A food heritage unique in the world for breadth, variety and quality excellence that claims:

• 275 DOP (Protected Designation of Origin), IGP (Protected Geographical Indication), STG (Traditional Speciality Guaranteed) products;
• 523 DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin), DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin), IGT (Indication of Geographic Distinctiveness) products.

Unfortunately, every year about 54 billion Euros ($58.8 billion) are spent by consumers around the world to buy products with images and brands that evoke Italy but are not actually related to authentic Made in Italy production, a figure representing more than the double of the value of real Italian exported food products.

If we focus on North America market, the estimated damage that the so-called phenomenon of Italian Sounding causes to Italian companies reaches 27 billion Euros ($29 billion), since only a product out of ten turns out to be authentic Made in Italy.

“The Extraordinary Italian Taste” brand, launched by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economic Development, was created with the objective of stemming the spread of Italian food products imitations as much as possible; promoting the authentic Made in Italy under one brand.

The related consumers’ awareness campaign planned in North America is aimed at promoting and enhancing Italian products through the diffusion of a greater knowledge on the specific characteristics and authenticity, with reference both to the places of origin and to the nutritional and certifying aspects. The production processes and unique areas of origin that characterize Made in Italy are in fact an essential and distinctive element for the products.

In addition, the campaign is designed to encourage a better distribution of Made in Italy products already present in the area and to facilitate the entry of new ones. As a matter of fact, the difficulty in finding some products, due to a disadvantageous distribution, remains a major cause for the choice of Italian Sounding products by consumers in North America.

To achieve these objectives, the Ministry of Economic Development will draw on the expertise and work of the Italian Chambers of United States, Canada and Mexico (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Chicago, New York, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, Mexico City) coordinated by Assocamerestero, the Association of Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad.

Among the different initiatives, there will be Educational Tours in Italy for journalists/opinion leaders, Masterclasses for food importers designed to promote awareness of genuine goods and certification processes, and finally, B2B meetings among Italian producers and US distributors and guided tours to Italian food companies.

Besides that, there will be promotional events in the States where the Chambers work. In particular, in Florida, the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast will take part with a booth at ​​the South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SBWFF), one of the largest and most popular festival in the wine and food sector, with over 60,000 visitors (February).

In May, in Miami, will take place the “Italian Restaurants Week“. It is a week in which specific menus based on IGP – DOP products will be proposed in 10 selected restaurants. The Chamber will be in charge of coordinating a local media campaign and distributing informative material with the aim to inform and engage a significant number of customers.

Finally, in July, the Chamber will have a booth at the FAND (Florida Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics) Annual Symposium, in Orlando. In addition to promoting the benefits  of authentic Italian food among the hundreds of nutritionists and dieticians attending the event there will be a break-out session with an Italian diet expert nutritionist and an Italian chef.

Click here and watch the the video realized for the promotion of “The Extraordinary Italian Taste” campaign in occasion of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival (February 26-27-28^th, 2016).

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“The Extraordinary Italian Taste” is a project funded by the Ministry of Economic Development and implemented by Assocamerestero in collaboration with the network of Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad present in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Project partners: the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE) and the Italian Association of Geographical Indication Consortia (AICIG).

Watch “The Extraordinary Italian Taste – US Commercial” :

2016 will be a special year for the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast (IACC) as we will celebrate, with a rich calendar of initiatives, the 25^th anniversary of this fine institution.

In 1991, when the Chamber was established, the Italian community in the US Southeast was made up of a few thousand people, now there are more than 30,000 Italians living here. Entrepreneurs, researchers and managers who have greatly contributed to the advancement and prosperity of this part of the world.  In the same way, Italian products have become more and more popular and exports from Italy have growth year after year.

The Chamber, has undoubtedly given its small contribution to this process. During the last 25 years, the IACC has helped hundreds of firms to access into the new market. Only in 2015, the IACC has provided information and orientation to almost 150 entrepreneurs; it has brought to different trade shows in Italy 85 US importers; it has organized business meetings for 6 delegations of Italian companies in Florida and it has promoted a dozen of local events where the main topic was Italian culture and economy.

Despite a current situation in which the public support to the Italian Chambers in the world has been dramatically reduced, the IACC has managed to successfully face the transition into a dynamic organization that drags its lifeblood from its clients and from over 200 corporate members that support it. By the way, the number members reached in 2015 represents an all-time record for our association.

We will soon announce the 2016 calendar of events that will reach its culmination in October in Miami, with a Gala that will celebrate “the Best of Italian creativity and design in the US”.

Longstanding members of the Chamber that with their generous support and civic vision have allowed the IACC to benefit communities on both sides of the Atlantic will receive a well-deserved recognition on Wed. December 9th in occasion of the traditional IACC Holiday Dinner at Il Forno Ristorante (9380 NW 25th St, Doral, FL 33172).

The IACC Board of Directors, Consul General of Italy Hon. Gloria Bellelli and special guest Hon. Luigi Boria, Mayor of Doral will honor with the IACC Pillar Award the companies that have reached their 10th or 15th membership anniversary.

See the list of awarded IACC members here.