Adopting good supply chain practices to make the fight against food waste more effective – this was the objective of the conference organised recently in Milan by Fiera Milano and TUTTOFOOD, ahead of the Sustainability-themed return of TUTTOFOOD 2023 (8–11 May at Fieramilano).

Approximately 8–10 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions relate to food waste today. If food waste were a country, it would be the third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind the US and China. Lamentably, 14 per cent of food production is lost at the collection and distribution stage, and 17 per cent is lost in consumption, with food waste generating 49 million metric tons of methane every year, according to the FAO. It is on these numbers that UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation is calling for all actors in the supply chain to make an impact to achieve the zero hunger and zero waste goals.

It is through this scope of sustainability that TUTTOFOOD 2023 also restarts – at Milan’s premier expo complex, fieramilano, from 8–11 May. 

A hub for sharing, training and reflection 

The first edition set to be held in post-pandemic conditions, TUTTOFOOD 2023 already looks on course to be a highly impactful event, with more than 1,000 brands – hailing from at least 35 countries – having confirmed their presence to date. However, TUTTOFOOD presents not only an international platform for meeting supply and demand, but also the opportunity for training, sharing and reflection thanks to quality content, expressed in a rich schedule of events and authoritative partnerships. 

Of particular note among the events is the return of the Retail Plaza by TUTTOFOOD, a unique format in which major Italian and global retail brands interact with companies and other stakeholders in a close dialogue that is difficult to achieve in other contexts. Also confirmed for this year is the collaboration with the Retail Institute, while keynote speakers include Giuseppe Stigliano (Global CEO of Spring Studios, and IULM professor); Cristina Lazzati (Director of Gdoweek and MarkUp); Cris Nulli (Founder of Appetite for Disruption); and Massimo Visconti (Value Chain Innovation Strategist). Among the topics that will be discussed from a sustainability perspective are innovation in supply chains, the opportunities of digital transformation – including the metaverse – and the ‘green’ approach in Retail. 

Also returning will be the Better Future Award, the award sponsored by TUTTOFOOD in collaboration with the publications Gdoweek and MarkUp that recognises sustainable innovation in agribusiness, including ethical socio-environmental initiatives. In 2021 this Award went, amongst others, to: a project focused on the sustainable cultivation in Ethiopia of teff (a traditional, local cereal); an initiative to support cocoa farmers in Uganda; and an urban gardens project, which reduces waste by promoting proximity to the consumer. Produced in collaboration with Ambassadors of Taste, the Taste Arena will be a place to meet the great protagonists of our cuisine, but also the beginning of an international journey that mixes the flavours of the world with Italian authenticity in search of a more conscious, responsible and sustainable food style. Guides for this exploration will be VIP chefs Gianfranco Pascucci, owner of Pascucci al Porticciolo (Fiumicino, Italy); Giancarlo Perbellini, owner of Casa Perbellini (Verona, Italy); Marco Sacco, owner of Il Piccolo Lago (Verbania, Italy); and Andrea Scarpati, owner of Sapori Restaurant (Leicester, UK).

In turn, Evolution Plaza will be the stage where the latest innovations in digital technologies regarding e-commerce, food delivery, apps, supporting technologies and blockchain will be explored by an array of experts on technology, new applications, and the latest solutions in agribusiness. Elsewhere, the Start Up Area will act as a showcase for young and dynamic companies to present their innovative products, creating and narrating developments in their ever-evolving range. Presentation of new, or significantly improved, product implementations is also planned. 

Another much anticipated show feature will be the Enoteca by the Italian Wine Union. In this event area dedicated to good wine, it will be possible to participate in tastings, conferences and seminars in order to learn about, recognise and appreciate the vine and viticulture to the fullest with a new approach marked by networking, as part of the TUTTOWINE sector. 

International lineup under the banner of quality 

On the subject of exhibition layout, particularly large representations at this year’s TUTTOFOOD are set to come from Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Denmark, Turkey and the USA. 

Numerous countries – including Ecuador, Faroe Islands, New Zealand, Romania, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Hungary – will also showcase exhibitors for the first time. 

Among professional visitors, the show organisers expect high-profile buyers hailing from across the globe, including large international retail chains, to be amongst the professional attendees.

 

This year's event is aiming for pre-Covid numbers – and with four months to go before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the TUTTOGROCERY, TUTTOSEAFOOD and TUTTOFROZEN sectors already have waiting lists, having already secured all the major names within these segments, alongside the confirmation of top players and a strong international presence in the TUTTOMEAT and TUTTODAIRY sectors. 

Flanking the F&B industry’s major names will be an important presence of Italian PDO and PGI consortiums and foreign collectives, which will enable an even more incisive collaborative supply chain approach. Italian consortia include, among others: Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Finocchiona, Gorgonzola Cheese, Montasio Cheese, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, Pasta di Gragnano, Pecorino Toscano, Prosciutto Toscano. 

New to the expo in 2023 will be the GreenTrail: a transversal pathway identified by a specific visual identity and dedicated signage, which will help people discover green, plant-based, km-zero, as well as healthy, rich-in and free-from products through all areas of the event and at the stands of all exhibitors, with a view to encouraging the fight against waste and facilitating healthier, sustainable and responsible food choices. The most active countries in the event in these segments include Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.

Further adding to the Sustainability focus, the next edition of TUTTOFOOD – set to be held at fieramilano from 8–11 May 2023 – the show organisers will reintroduce the TUTTOGOOD initiative in collaboration with Banco Alimentare and other Third Sector entities, including Pane Quotidiano, which over the years has made it possible to recover tons of usable food at the end of the event days. 

For the latest information on TUTTOFOOD 2023, visit: www.tuttofood.it