Parma Alimentare showcases Prosciutto and Parmigiano in Tokyo

Parma - First Dubai then Tokyo: a few days after Gulfood's "Taste of Parma" trade fair, Parma Alimentare heads to Japan on a new business mission. The event, Foodex Japan, taking place from 6 to 9 March, is the most important food and wine trade fair on the Asian continent. Confirming this, figures show that in 2017, 3,280 exhibitors from 77 countries and 82,400 visitors attended Foodex Japan. Visitors were mainly buyers from the food service industry, wholesale sectors, major supermarkets and importers. Parma Alimentare will be in Tokyo with four companies from the Emilia region: Coppini Arte Olearia, Rizzoli Emanuelli, Ruliano and Tanara Giancarlo. "Although 2017 was a record year for Made in Italy food exports, with a turnover of 41.03 billion euros (up 7%), ISTAT data on overseas trade formulated by Coldiretti confirms exports to Japanese are still limited", said Alessandra Foppiano, Executive Manager, Parma Alimentare. "In the first nine months of 2017, Parma food exports to the Land of the Rising Sun amounted to 23.8 million euros. In comparison with the rest of Italy, Parma has a twofold competitive advantage: its networking ability and, more importantly, the fact that it is the birthplace of excellent produce. So much so, it ranks first in Italy due to the economic impact of DOP and IGP products, which total 1.41 billion euros." Japanese consumers greatly appreciate the excellence of local specialties and traditional products. "Careful analysis of data for 2017 shows the two sectors which recorded the most significant increases in Japan are dairy products and processed, preserved meats. In both cases, growth in exports exceeded 27%. Parmigiano Reggiano DOP and Prosciutto di Parma DOP were instrumental in this", concluded Mr. Foppiano.