The considerable Italian presence at the show provides an excellent opportunity to the citizens and businesspeople of Bulgaria to learn more about and develop a deeper appreciation for Italian cuisine and wines.
With roughly more than 209 million euros imported products in 2021, with a growth of +8.6% compared to the previous year, Bulgaria is already a significant market for Italian exports in this industry. For instance, Italy is the nation’s top wine and olive oil supplier and its second-largest coffee supplier.
Giuseppina Zarra, the ambassador of Italy to Bulgaria, and Francesco Calderoli, the deputy head of the mission, along with Chiara Petr, the director of the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) in Sofia, officially opened the exhibition Interfood & Drink, which is devoted to the food industry and will be held in Sofia from October 5 to 8 in the Inter Expo Center and the Italian pavilion there.
Twenty Italian companies from various regions are present at the show, which is in its 21st year and is organised by the ICE agency. Producers of olive oil, wine, alcohol, sweets, coffee, pasta, cans, grains, bakery snacks, and many other products are among the Italian businesses.
The 2022 edition’s theme, “Community, Sustainability, and Innovation. The Ingredients of Italian Cuisine for the Health of People and the Protection of the Planet,” combines the promotion of Italian agricultural and food products with the advancement of the Mediterranean diet as a model for healthy and sustainable eating and a way of life.
The programme is one of the activities for the eighth Week of Italian Cuisine Around the World, coordinated by the Italian Embassy in Sofia and the numerous Sistema Italia entities in Bulgaria. Since its beginning in 2016, the event has solidified its position as one of the top initiatives to promote the best aspects of Italian agricultural food chains, food, and wine traditions overseas.