NewsWebinar
05/14/2020

“People are looking for new.” Notes from the May 12 webinar “Open for Business: The Italian Food and Wine Supply Chain” (first in our COVID-19 era webinar series)

“People are looking for new” said veteran Italian food importer Cecilia Ercolino in the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce South Central webinar held on Tuesday, May 12. It was the first in a series of live events to be presented by the IACC. Nearly 200 persons attended the inaugural session.

Consumers are looking for new brands and new niche products, said Ercolino.

Because of disruptions in the supply chain, she noted, they are willing to abandon their loyalty to one particular brand or another. As a result, there is immense opportunity for Italian food producers to break into the market.

She also spoke at length about how companies that are willing to do “whatever it takes” are the ones that are making gains in the market. It’s a new era in sales and marketing for Italian food and wine. Wine and food producers, she said, need to look to their importers and distributors for guidance on what the support they need to move their products. And they need to heed their advice.

Niccolo Lorimer, a logistics and shipping expert, offered an update on the ongoing trade war and tariff situation. He also spoke at length about creative and innovative ways that companies are selling and marketing their products.

Denise Thomas, a global strategist for the Arkansas World Trade center encouraged attendees to explore opportunities in state’s like hers where “people are ready to do business.” She pointed to the state’s vibrant Italian-American community, for example, as a market “hungry” for new food products.

The following video includes highlights from the May 12 event. Stay tuned for the next webinar (and in case you are not already subscribed to the IACC mailing list, please send us an email by clicking here).

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