The International Food Exhibition Kicks Off in Paris

(ANSA) - PARIGI, 19 OTT - The 2026 edition of SIAL Paris was inaugurated yesterday in Paris at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center, the International Food Exhibition, in the presence of Annie Genevard, French Minister of Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Food Sovereignty, and representatives from the Italian Embassy in France. The event, scheduled to run through October 21, sees Italy once again take the lead in terms of exhibition space, with a total of approximately 700 companies participating in the fair. As part of the Italian delegation, ICE Agenzia is organizing a collective exhibition featuring 218 companies spread across Halls 1, 5B, and 7, covering a total area of approximately 3,000 m². The Italian presence offers companies an important opportunity to showcase their products of excellence to international operators and develop new business relationships with buyers, importers, and distributors. The French market plays a leading role for the Italian agri-food sector. In fact, France is the sector’s second-largest export destination, after Germany. In 2025—the year in which Italian agri-food exports exceeded 72 billion euros worldwide—French imports of agri-food products from Italy reached 6.84 billion euros, marking a 4.78% increase compared to 2024. This positive trend continued in the first half of 2026: the value of French imports from Italy stood at 3.35 billion euros, up 2.3% compared to the same period the previous year. The breakdown of this trade highlights the diversity of Italian production. In the first six months of 2026, French imports of Italian cheeses reached 563.7 million euros (+1.8%), those of pasta 254.7 million (+0.4%), and those of hams and cured meats 107.4 million (+5%). At SIAL, the member companies of the collective will showcase this diversity of supply chains: Hall 1 will feature gourmet specialties, Hall 5B will showcase confectionery products, and Hall 7 will highlight dairy products. For industry professionals, this will be an opportunity to meet directly with companies from different regions, all united by a focus on quality, product origin, and innovation. Participation in SIAL Paris 2026 confirms the trade show’s strategic role as an international hub for promoting the Italian agri-food sector. In France, Italy’s second-largest export market, exports reached 6.7 billion euros, up more than 5% from the previous year. Against the backdrop of slowing growth in 2026, SIAL represents a crucial opportunity to consolidate the results achieved and open up new opportunities in international markets. The Italian pavilion was inaugurated today in the presence of ICE Agency President Matteo Zoppas, who, at the conclusion of the ceremony, met with representatives from the Italian regions in attendance, the companies participating in the collective exhibition, and the main industry associations. Among the institutional guests who graced the opening ceremony were Nicola Caputo, Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, responsible for exports and the internationalization of the agri-food sector; and Fabio Cannavaro, Ambassador of Serie A, whose presence helped strengthen the link between the excellence of “Made in Italy,” the international promotion of Italy’s image, and the great ambassadors of Italian sports around the world. During the event, the Italian pavilion will today welcome Luigi D’Eramo, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forests (MASAF), who is in Paris for the Ministerial Conference on Agriculture. The visit will provide an important opportunity to engage with Italian companies participating in SIAL and to highlight the quality and competitiveness of the national agri-food sector in international markets.
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