(Apr. 30th) In 2013, exports of Grana Padano increased overall by 6.5%, with 1,519,464 forms sold worldwide. Germany is leading with an increase of 9.5 % of purchases for a total of 360,000 forms, followed by the United States, with a +4.5 % and 150,000 forms destined overseas. A good performance also for Austria (+11% with over 50,000 shapes) and Spain (+10% with 45,500 forms ). This are the data released during the General Assembly of the producers recently held in Desenzano del Garda. But the positive data regarding exports cannot hide the economic damage caused by counterfeiting, which only for Grana Padano is worth 1 billion euros, 700 million abroad and 300 million Italy. “Above all, we need to increase our commitment against food piracy and counterfeiting, which is now based on about 10,000 inspections in Italy and abroad. Then with have to look with a special attention to Expo 2015 and the possibility to improve the performance of Grana Padano, which is already the world’s most consumed GDP product,” said during the meeting Nicola Cesare Baldrighi, president of Consorzio Grana Padano.”
