AGP Executive Report

Food Safety Recall: Italy-linked guanciale is being pulled in the US after USDA flagged possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination in imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale (about 1,513 lb) distributed to California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas; no illnesses reported, consumers told not to eat and retailers to stop selling. Climate & Wine: France is forecasting one of its worst wine outputs in 30 years as heatwaves and drought cut yields and vineyard area, with Champagne and Burgundy among the hardest hit—another reminder of how weather is reshaping European wine supply. Italian Pasta Deal: Barilla is buying Goodles, aiming to blend its pasta know-how with the health-focused mac and cheese brand’s protein-and-fiber positioning. Hospitality & Travel (Italy tie-in): Oceania Cruises highlights a Trieste-to-Athens route that includes Brindisi and other Mediterranean stops, with excursions like wine tastings and pasta demos. Packaging Trend: Elopak says paper-based cartons are gaining traction in home and personal care as brands respond to regulation and recycling expectations.

Italian Seafood & Exports: In the Po River Delta near Venice, Italian fishermen are pivoting after an invasive Atlantic blue crab surge that crushed revenues—some are now selling the crabs abroad to protect Manila clams and mussels, with early results showing the catch is moving again. Food Safety & Retail Oversight: South Carolina inspectors logged 303 visits in York County in August, issuing nine B grades and two C grades, including cases where priority issues weren’t fixed after follow-ups. Local Hospitality Rules: Naperville, Illinois lifted its long-running ban on happy hour drink specials, allowing promotions under state limits (including a 7 p.m. cutoff and caps on hours). Food Culture & Travel: A new direct Rome–Munich train is planned for summer 2027, while cruise lines keep upgrading onboard dining into a major draw for travelers. Brand & Product News: Barilla is buying better-for-you mac and cheese brand Goodles.

Italian seafood pivot: Fishermen in the Po River Delta near Venice are turning invasive Atlantic blue crabs into cash, after revenues plunged and cooperative membership shrank during the invasion; the consortium says it has already sold out this year’s catch, reducing pressure on the region’s prized Manila clams. Food craft, not shortcuts: A pasta-salad “Italian upgrade” recommends swapping bland “Italian dressing” for a bruschetta-style mix—marinated tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and basil—to boost freshness and balance. Aperitif market shake-up: Pernod Ricard is pushing Lillet spritz sales in the UK, reporting a sharp volume rise and positioning the French tonic-turned-aperitif against Campari’s Aperol dominance. Olive oil shopping tips: An olive oil sommelier urges buyers to choose dark glass, check harvest dates, and stick to extra virgin for better quality. Slow Food at Terra Madre: Slow Food’s Indigenous Peoples’ network plans to bring more than 150 delegates to Turin to argue for biodiversity protection and food sovereignty. Travel-to-Italy practicalities: A first-time Italy Q&A highlights budgeting, Schengen visa timing, and best seasons for wine and fewer crowds.

Olive Oil Buying Guide: An olive oil sommelier says shoppers can get better quality without overspending by choosing dark glass (to slow oxidation/rancidity), avoiding plastic storage, buying extra virgin, and checking the harvest date plus the olive cultivar. Health & Diet: Multiple large studies and reviews link regular spicy food (capsaicin) with lower risk of death and reduced cardiovascular, cancer, and lung mortality, though researchers can’t prove direct cause. Italian-leaning Cooking Hacks: A quick method repurposes frozen dinner rolls into focaccia by thawing, letting dough rise, pressing dimples, drizzling extra virgin olive oil, and baking—an easy way to get an Italian-style crust fast. Food Culture & Tourism: A Lake Como luxury hotel story spotlights how gastronomy and high-end hospitality define the region’s dining experience, reinforcing Italy’s pull for food travelers. Wine Travel Spotlight: A feature on Calabria frames it as an “unsung” Italian wine destination with wine cities and routes for travelers seeking fewer crowds.

Food Promotions: National Cheese Pizza Day is here (Sat, Sept. 5), with Labor Day weekend deals pushing cheesy slices and “Italian-style” pizza nostalgia into the spotlight. Wine & Culture: A wine column argues Asti (Asti Spumante) is back in fashion, calling the once-maligned sweet Italian fizz “actually delicious” as tastes shift toward drier styles. Hospitality & Dining: A chef profile spotlights New Orleans restaurateur Brian Landry and QED Hospitality’s push to reshape hotel food-and-beverage offerings, including a recent acquisition of Broussard’s. Wine Pairing Picks: A roundup of wines for the autumn transition highlights new bottles and pairing ideas as cooler-weather sipping approaches. Food Writing & Recipes: A digital cookbook launch, ModernAncientRoman.com, brings ancient Roman cuisine to modern kitchens with sourced recipes and technique guides. Italian Food Inspiration: A “50 delicious Italian recipes” list leans into cucina povera-style home cooking, from lasagna to cacio e pepe.

M&A Watch: Barilla Group is buying better-for-you mac and cheese brand Goodles, keeping it as an independent brand led by co-founder Jen Zeszut and aiming to expand internationally—another push into functional, higher-protein pasta snacks. Foodservice & Retail: Serafina is now the Official Pizza of the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park, rolling out a curated menu of Margherita, Pepperoni, Mortadella and Truffle. Italian Wine in Travel Retail: Bottega is refreshing its sparkling range and expanding 20cl formats, spotlighting no/low-alcohol options and its “Amazonik” concept for travel retail. Recipes & Home Cooking: A new “lasagna soup” format leans on slow-cooker convenience to deliver classic layered flavors without the assembly. Community Food Culture: A Piedmont wine tasting dinner in Dubai spotlights Batasiolo and Castello di Gabiano with a seven-wine journey. Industry Pulse: Food tourism research says more travelers are choosing trips based on hands-on food experiences, not just landmarks.

Barilla Deal: Barilla is buying Gooder Foods (Goodles), the Santa Cruz mac-and-cheese brand co-founded by Gal Gadot, aiming to expand the “healthier” pasta-and-cheese lineup and grow internationally. Kitchen Tech at IFA: Electrolux/AEG unveiled its “Art of Hosting” concept and a world premiere OnePot Pasta hob, demonstrated by Italian chef Davide Oldan, promising faster weekday pasta cooking. Wine & Culture: The Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival returns Oct. 29–Nov. 1 with a major drinks focus that includes an Italy spotlight and a Bordeaux program tied to a tourism partnership. Italian Hospitality Spotlight: Locanda Cipriani on Venice’s Torcello island reopens after renovations, with the group positioning the revival around preserving its “soul” while adding understated luxury. Food Safety Watch: Pennsylvania restaurant inspections flagged handwashing and temperature-control issues at Sisu Coffee and other local food sites, underscoring ongoing compliance pressure. Food & Drink Travel: A roundup highlights “Italy with the volume turned down” travel in Ferrara, plus a South Tyrol hotel redesign in Merano that swaps mountain tropes for a more metropolitan look.

Italian Food & Beverage Dealmaking: Barilla has agreed to acquire Goodles, the US mac-and-cheese brand co-founded by Gal Gadot, in a deal that keeps Goodles operating as a standalone brand from Santa Cruz pending regulatory approval. Hospitality & Italian Flavors: Segafredo launched Segafredo Cold Espresso (Sept. 1) aimed at speeding up espresso-based drinks for restaurants and bars during peak autumn/holiday demand. Italian Culture on the Ground: The 45th Port Washington Italian Festival (Sept. 10–13) returns with pasta, meatballs, zeppole, cannoli, and a beer-and-wine tent. Foodservice Innovation: Ford Field’s Lions home opener menu adds a “Food Passport” and “Drink of the Game Passport” programs, with new interactive items and local vendor offerings. Business Performance: Mama’s Creations reported Q2 fiscal 2027 revenue up 55% to $54.6m, with net income up 101% to $2.6m, as it expanded placements with major retailers.

Italian Trade & Culture: “Italy in Town – Taste. Explore. Celebrate” lands in Pretoria on Sept. 5-6 with 30+ booths spanning food and wine plus fashion and automotive, and a live Monza F1 broadcast on a giant screen. Italian Food Industry Deal: Barilla has agreed to buy U.S. macaroni-and-cheese brand Goodles, with co-founder/CEO Jen Zeszut staying on, signaling continued expansion beyond Italy’s core pasta market. Italian Hospitality & Design: Venice’s ultra-luxury hotel arms race keeps heating up as new openings and restorations raise the stakes for high-end stays on the Giudecca and beyond. Foodservice Trends: Tampa Bay restaurants are adjusting menus for diners using GLP-1 weight-loss meds and “sober curious” habits, with more non-alcoholic options and smaller portions. Food & Beverage Ops: Pennsylvania restaurant inspections flagged issues like expired or improperly labeled ready-to-eat items and sanitation problems, underscoring tighter compliance expectations. Italian Lifestyle Travel: Puglia is being pitched as an autumn “hidden gem” for quieter beaches, baroque Lecce, and authentic food-and-wine tourism.

Italian Food Culture & Media: RTÉ’s “Donal’s Italian Kitchen” spotlights Italian comfort classics with a “Marry Me Chicken” pasta bake and a butternut squash prosciutto risotto, leaning on olive oil, herbs and slow-simmered flavor. Foodservice & Consumer Experience: Detroit Lions’ Ford Field debuts a 2026 food-and-drink lineup plus a “Mobile Food Passport” stamp program tied to local Detroit partners and prizes. Italian Heritage & Community: “Smiles for Sweetser II” returns Oct. 23 at Portland’s Italian Heritage Center, pairing comedy with mental-health fundraising. Wine & Trade Signals: Armenia cut 2025 wine exports by 3% by volume but lifted export value 12%, while imports surged 60%—with Italy the biggest supplier (42.3%). Sustainability & Seafood Economy: Italian fishermen in the Po Delta are pivoting from invasive blue crabs toward exporting them, aiming to protect lagoon livelihoods as demand shifts.

Italian Food & Beverage Business Moves: Henkell Freixenet is buying a 60% stake in Ireland’s Cassidy Wines, aiming to build a leading Irish distribution platform by merging operations under the Cassidy Wines name. Foodservice & Concepts: Knightsbridge Italian restaurant ALBA is launching an omakase concept, blending Italian roots with a Japanese-style format. Italian Flavors, Everywhere: A new “tomato and corn panzanella” recipe spotlights a summery Italian bread-and-tomato salad approach, using grilled croutons, basil vinaigrette, and quick-pickled onions. Wine & Culture: Decanter’s September issue spotlights Argentina and Chile wine scenes, pushing back against Eurocentric taste benchmarks. On the Ground (Food Safety): Pennsylvania restaurant inspections reported multiple “pass” outcomes, with minor storage and sanitation corrections noted. Community & Fundraising: “Pizza for Good” launches with independent pizzerias to support childhood cancer efforts, donating from select orders.

Italian Waste Policy Spotlight: Capannori’s long fight against incineration helped it build a zero-waste system based on separation, reduction, reuse and prevention—an approach that pushed recycling above 80% and is now seen as a model for Italy. Health & Food Industry Research: An Italian multi-center study on Crohn’s patients in remission found procurement-driven switching from reference ustekinumab to approved biosimilars maintained clinical success rates at 6 months. Foodservice & Brand Moves: Papa John’s is rolling out its “Ultimate Pepperoni Pizza” nationwide, touting 30% more pepperoni and no artificial colors or MSG. Wine Culture & Events: Candoni Wines partners with an organic farmers association to fund farmer advocacy, while rosé-focused patio tastings and major food-and-wine experiences keep the late-summer calendar busy. On-the-ground Italy Angle: U.S. Army Garrison Italy’s Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program won Program of the Year for the third straight year, highlighting quality-of-life initiatives at Camp Darby.

Italian Wine Trade: Red Bordeaux exports slid in early 2026, with export value down 19% and volume down 8%, suggesting price pressure and weaker returns per unit shipped. Importer Moves: Hallgarten & Novum Wines is expanding its Italian portfolio by adding family-run Soave producer Inama and Abruzzo’s Terre di Civita, aiming to strengthen its range for both independents and fine wine merchants. Design Meets Food Packaging: A’ Design Awards named Gca Design Studio Gold for “Perfectly Imperfect,” a flint glass sauce bottle that turns natural manufacturing variation into a feature to cut waste. Food & Drink Events: Summerville’s inaugural Wine & Food Festival (Oct. 17) will spotlight wineries including Tuscany (Italy) with wine tastings and chef bites, targeting about 1,000 attendees. Aperitivo Culture: Negroni Month extends across Melbourne in September, with participating venues rolling out classic and local twists on the Campari-gin-vermouth staple. Non-Alcoholic Wine: A guide highlights how dealcoholized wine is made and spotlights Riunite Zero and Maschio Zero sparkling options.

Pizza & Toppings Push: Papa John’s rolls out the “Ultimate Pepperoni Pizza,” built around 30% more pepperoni and positioned as a value-heavy, pepperoni-first option nationwide. Italian Spirits Spotlight: A feature revisits how amaro moved from monastery roots to modern digestivo culture, explaining why bitter herbal liqueurs became a post-meal staple. Cocktail Trend Watch: The spritz stays in focus as a flexible “aperitivo” drink that’s spreading beyond summer, with bars leaning into lighter, social, lower-ABV formats. Restaurant Openings (Italy-adjacent): LPM Restaurant & Bar (French Riviera vibes) is set to open Sept. 24 in Boston with classic escargot service. Italian Food Culture, On the Move: A travel piece follows a Mont Blanc trek into Italy, pairing the scenery with a “coffee break” stop at the top. Wine Trade Angle: Tariff pressure is squeezing margins for Walla Walla wineries, with costs and pricing impacts rippling through wine sales. Italian Design Meets China: “The Italian Lounge” returns to CIFF Shanghai 2026 with an expanded lineup of Italian brands and a stronger Italy-China business program.

Italian Coffee Design Buzz: Lavazza’s Elogy Barista (multi-beverage system) won Gold at the A’ Design Award, spotlighting Italian coffee culture in the home and emphasizing energy use and repairability. Sicilian Agri-Tech Showcase: Frutech 2026 (25–27 Nov, SiciliaFiera) is gearing up its third edition with a trail of recent milestones, including MASAF presentation in Rome and ongoing promotion of protected cultivation tech. Fruit & Veg Innovation: Frutech’s campaign also ties into initiatives like Tomato Excellent, with awards planned during the November event. Wine Market Pressure: European wine producers are seeking new markets as China demand cools, with import volumes down and inventories weighing on orders. Trade Dispute Watch: The US is pushing back in US-Mexico talks over a cheese naming dispute, arguing terms like “parmesan” and “feta” are generic while the EU wants tighter regional protections. Food Culture in Motion: Brussels ETO promoted Hong Kong wine and spirits plus academic exchange and music in Sicily, pairing industry meetings with a Palermo festival performance. On-Shelf Snack Update: Walkers is launching two finalists from its Do Us A Flavour campaign—Salt & Pepper Chicken and Grilled Cheese & Chilli Jam—testing which becomes permanent.

Trade & Labels: The US is pressing Mexico over a cheese-name dispute tied to EU protections for regional products, arguing terms like “parmesan” and “feta” are generic while the EU says they must be tied to specific origins. Wine & Diplomacy: Brussels ETO backed a Sicily programme promoting Hong Kong’s wine and spirits, plus academic exchanges with Palermo’s university, and supported a Palermo Classica festival concert by pianist Rachel Cheung. Foodservice & Innovation: Papa John’s Qatar marks 20 years with an all-new Pan Pizza featuring crispy caramelised edges, a six-cheese blend and edge-to-edge toppings, rolling out from 28 August 2026. Local Dining Spotlight: A new Italian-focused pizzeria opened in Nutley, led by an ex-corporate chef aiming for an upscale, homemade menu including pinsa and rotating specials. Italian Cooking Culture: A September risotto with mushrooms recipe highlights the seasonal shift in Italian home cooking as summer produce fades and autumn ingredients arrive.