Dec. 24 – Italian food has become an absolute must for the Irish. The confirmation occurred during the recent BtoB meetings organized by FIBI in Dublin: the event reaffirmed a passion for Italy and its products not only among the numerous Italians in Ireland, but also, and especially, among the Irish themselves. Through direct meetings (business to business) with Italian companies in Dublin, Irish buyers have had the opportunity to learn about Italian companies, taste various products, appreciate their quality, and start negotiations for the first trade agreements. The buyers – distributors, specialized importers, restaurateurs, shop owners off-license, head chef, take-away owners – have especially appreciated the tenets of traditional Italian food: pasta, wine, olive oil, preserved vegetables and traditional Christmas cakes, as Panettone. The BtoB were held at the Italian School of Cooking in Dublin – founding member of FIBI – and saw the participation of 22 food companies from various regions of Italy – Emilia Romagna, Abruzzo, Friuli, Veneto, Sicily, Tuscany, Marche, Molise, Puglia – each present with traditional and typical products of their history and culture.
