GialloZafferano USA Inc., Mondadori Digital’s U.S. company managing GialloZafferano’s operations in the United States, took part for the fourth consecutive year in the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York (28–30 June, Javits Center). Now in its 70^th edition, the event is North America’s leading trade show for the specialty food industry, bringing together more than 2,400 exhibitors from 57 countries and over 32,000 trade professionals, including buyers, distributors, investors and media representatives.

The 2026 edition took place against the backdrop of the United States confirming its position as the second-largest destination market for Italian agri-food exports, and the largest outside the European Union. In 2025, Italian food and beverage exports reached a record €72.5 billion, up 5% year on year despite a challenging international environment. Within this context, the Summer Fancy Food Show serves as the leading meeting point between Italy’s finest food producers and the American distribution, retail and media sectors. GialloZafferano USA Inc. plays a key role in this ecosystem as an integrated digital and physical hub, helping Italian companies build not only a presence in the U.S. market but also a distinctive and lasting brand narrative.

“When we first attended the Fancy Food Show four years ago, our goal was to better understand this market. Today, GialloZafferano has established a permanent presence in the United States, and we are ready to help further strengthen the position of Italian companies in America by leveraging the power of a unique brand that does more than showcase Italian food. It creates meaningful connections,” said Gabriele Colasanto, Brand Director, Food Area at Mondadori Digital and CEO of GialloZafferano USA Inc.

GIALLOZAFFERANO AS MEDIA PARTNER OF THE ITALY PAVILION

This year once again, GialloZafferano served as media partner of the Italy Pavilion, alongside Universal Marketing, the Specialty Food Association‘s exclusive representative in Italy and organiser of the Italian companies’ participation at the Fancy Food Show. In 2026, the Italy Pavilion once again stood as the event’s largest international exhibition area, hosting more than 300 companies across approximately 3,000 square metres, highlighting Italy’s central role in the global specialty food sector. At the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York, GialloZafferano furthered its mission of bringing together the authentic traditions of Italian and American food culture while engaging with younger generations through the food creators of Zenzero Talent Agency—including Cooker Girl, CookwithFez and Daniele Rossi—joined by a roster of Italian American creators comprising Alessandra Ciuffo, Silvia Barban and Bilena Settepani. Together, they took centre stage in live cooking demonstrations and created original content for partner brands. Activities were amplified through GialloZafferano Loves Italy, the social media profile dedicated to international audiences, with a particular focus on the U.S. market.

GRANA PADANO: FROM THE CONSORTIUM’S STAND TO CASA GESSI

The long-standing partnership with Grana Padano continued through a programme of content, social activations and brand experiences. At the Consortium’s stand, GialloZafferano hosted daily live cooking demonstrations and edutainment sessions for the show’s B2B audience, featuring nutritionist Cassandra Lepore, who led discussions on nutrition and healthy eating. Topics that are becoming increasingly important to American consumers. GialloZafferano also served as the food media partner for a special evening at Casa Gessi—an exclusive New York venue where art, lifestyle, cuisine and cocktails came together—featuring Cooker Girl, Silvia Barban and Bilena Settepani. For the occasion, bartender Matt Maretz (Employees Only) created a signature Grana Padano cocktail especially for the event.

UNFANCY NIGHT: THE ITALIAN SIGNATURE APERITIVO WITH CESARE BATTISTI

To conclude the Summer Fancy Food Show, GialloZafferano hosted the third edition of Unfancy, the evening event that has become the go-to closing gathering for New York’s Italian food community. Conceived as an informal setting beyond the traditional trade show environment, it was designed to foster connections among brands, chefs, creators, buyers and industry professionals, in a context where food once again became an experience before a product. For its 2026 edition, the event took a significant step towards establishing its own editorial identity.

GialloZafferano entrusted the evening’s culinary programme to chef Cesare Battisti—chef and owner of Ratanà in Milan, a collaborator with GialloZafferano and Zenzero Talent Agency, and one of the most respected voices in contemporary Italian cuisine. For the occasion, he created an Italian Signature Aperitivo featuring three bespoke tasting bites, each expressing his culinary philosophy while showcasing the excellence of Italian gastronomy with authenticity and restraint for an audience of American food industry professionals. The evening was made possible thanks to the support of partner brands that shared this vision.

De Cecco—one of the most established and recognised Italian pasta brands in the U.S. market—was among the sponsors of Unfancy Night and hosted a live cooking demonstration with Silvia Barban, who prepared her own reinterpretation of Pasta alla Norma. At the Urbani Tartufi food station, chef Daniele Rossi showcased the flavour of Urbani truffles through his signature panettone and beef tartare. Ferrarelle curated the evening’s bar stations, while chef Luca Manfè created Italian-inspired toppings for the artisanal pinse by Pinsa di Marco, which joined GialloZafferano at the Fancy Food Show for the second consecutive year. Together with GialloZafferano, these brands share a commitment not only to bringing their products to the U.S., but also to promoting the cultural heritage that makes them distinctive. Held on a rooftop overlooking the New York skyline, the evening perfectly captured the spirit of the event: Italian in inspiration, New York in outlook.

The communication project was developed with the support of the Sales Marketing & Integrated Media Solutions division of Mediaset Group.

 

GialloZafferano is Italy’s leading food media brand. Online, one in two Italians cooks using GialloZafferano, which reaches over 21 million people every month (Comscore Social Incremental Reach, March 2026). With a fanbase of 72 million followers, it tops the global rankings for food brands on social media (source: internal analysis of Shareablee–Comscore data and social insights). Always on hand with easy recipes that anyone can make, it is available at any time of day across all channels: from the internet to social media, the app, smart devices, the magazine, books, and even local events.