High-quality Italian food and wine has become a well-established reality on the international stage,MKS sports to such an extent that the export of these culinary delights to all corners of the globe has become a strategic focus for several Italian food companies of all sizes. Some have successfully transformed this into a comprehensive business. 

Augusto Cremonini, CEO of IF&B

Established in 2012, Inalca Food & Beverage (IF&B) specializes in the international sale and distribution of authentic Made in Italy products. Their portfolio boasts top-notch brands, totaling around 10,000 references, with a primary focus on the Italian restaurant industry, ranging from casual to fine dining, including pizza. Controlled by Inalca S.p.A. (Gruppo Cremonini), the company aims to directly oversee the markets in which it operates, focusing on partnerships and the acquisition of small and medium-sized local distributors, ensuring comprehensive last-mile coverage. 

The operations completed in 2023 across Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Australia align with this strategy, strengthening IF&B's presence in highly dynamic markets where the company has been active for some time. The latest operation with the Cascino family, announced today, provides the perfect opportunity to invite CEO Augusto Cremonini to lead us in exploring this unique entity within the landscape of Italian export. 

Starting with its end-to-end business model, which is likely unique in its kind. "Our relatively short history has taught us that each non-EU market presents its own habits, complexities, and barriers, extending beyond tariffs, that require a lengthy and significant effort of understanding and knowledge for exporters. This is why we have opted for an approach that leads us to directly oversee every single phase of the supply chain. From contacting suppliers, often small niche producers lacking the economies of scale to export independently, to reaching the doorstep of restaurants on the opposite side of the globe."

"Thanks to our operational hub in Castelnuovo Rangone, in the province of Modena, we handle every step: negotiating contracts with suppliers, preparing goods and documentation, executing multi-temperature logistics, and ensuring final delivery. All of this is done with efficiency, speed, and precision, without relying on third parties for anything."

Inalca Food & Beverage

Two different targets: hospitality and tourism

In recent years, IF&B has fostered transparent and genuinely collaborative relationships with its suppliers. "We actively involve them in joint planning for specific markets, coordinating precise actions in response to particular needs. Moreover, we have decided not to participate in institutional fairs. Instead, we organize events specifically designed to bring suppliers and clients together, bridging the often-significant distances - not only geographically - that separate them. Through these efforts, we aim to establish ourselves as a modern, independent, and integrated holding company, specializing in the supply of products and services for the global Italian restaurant industry. This commitment extends to include the hospitality sector, tourism, and business, encompassing services such as catering for airlines," Cremonini explained.

To underscore the importance of its relationships with partners and the value of training, IF&B has invested in the establishment of a dedicated Academy at its headquarters. This represents a significant commitment, extending beyond kitchen facilities to include audiovisual equipment. "The goal is to produce content tailored to the needs of suppliers, providing materials that can be accessed at any time and customized according to specific usage requirements. We have a double objective: empowering our sales force with the necessary skills and enabling the end customers to make more informed procurement decisions. We firmly believe in the added value of this new facility, which is also available to suppliers for the creation of promotional and advertising content." 

"We are emerging from a two-year period focused on revitalization, following the challenges posed by COVID-19, which forced us to make tough decisions but also prompted a reflection on the opportunity to streamline our organization by cutting some dead branches to concentrate on the more sustainable aspects of the business."

Inalca Food & Beverage

International partnerships

Partnering with well-established entities in local markets is frequently the most advantageous path for companies looking to strengthen their international business presence. This is the case of IF&B, which has recently entered into an agreement with the Cascino family to establish Casina Ltd, a new holding company operating in Hong Kong SAR. As a result of this operation, IF&B now holds a 70 percent stake, while the Cascino family retains the remaining 30 percent. In addition to taking over all the Chinese operations managed by Cascino in areas complementary to those traditionally overseen by IF&B in China, the new company has absorbed IF&B's assets, with distribution platforms in Shanghai, Beijing, Zhongshan, Dongguan, and Chengdu. As a result, the new company will allow the business to expand into other Chinese cities with high growth potential, including Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, Ningbo, Wenzhou and other cities in East China's Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. 

Inalca Food & Beverage

"With this operation, IF&B has the opportunity to further accelerate the development in the Chinese market, one of the most interesting and dynamic markets in the world, where demand for premium Italian food products is constantly growing. The expertise and distribution capacity of Cascino will allow us to maximize growth potential, in addition to enhancing recent investments in the high-end food segment," Augusto Cremonini, CEO of IF&B, explained.