Above: Jimmy’s Food Store in Dallas, an Italian specialty shop. Photo taken in late February.
As businesses in Italy begin to reopen this week, Italian food and wine professionals are looking for new ways to connect with buyers across the U.S. With travel restrictions still in place and consumer confidence low, the challenges of doing business here are greater than ever.
In keeping with its mission to foster business ties between the two countries, the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce has asked me to moderate a series of webinars with leading importers, distributors, and buyers from across the nation.
The first one is scheduled for Tuesday of next week at 10 a.m. EST and it’s open to all (you don’t have to be a chamber member to participate).
I’ll be talking to two east coast importers and a business development specialist from the south (see their bios below).
I’m particularly excited to hear what my good friend Niccolo Lorimer has to say. He’s a top logistics expert and is specialized in clearing wine for trade events, a really interesting (and sweet) guy who always has compelling insights to share.
Please use the link below to register. And please feel free to share. All are welcome.
NEW WEBINAR SERIES: Challenges and Opportunities in the Post-Pandemic Era
A webinar series on how to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the After COVID-19 Era, featuring top food and wine importers, distributors, and buyers from across the U.S.
EPISODE 1: “Open for Business: The Italian Food and Wine Supply Chain.”
Tuesday, May 12
10 a.m. EST / 4 p.m. CET
With veteran Italian food importer Cecilia Ercolino, global strategist and business development expert Denise Henderson Thomas, and logistics, customs, and importing expert Niccolo Lorimer.
Cecilia Ercolino is the president of Italian Products USA, Inc., an Italian specialty food product importer with customers ranging from large foodservice distributors such as Chefs Warehouse and Sysco, to retail chains such as Whole Foods, Dean & DeLuca, Central Market, and independent gourmet shops.
Denise Henderson Thomas, a global strategist and business development expert, has been connecting people and products through strategic partnerships for more than a decade. As Director of Africa and Middle East trade desk at the World Trade Center Arkansas, she draws upon her diverse experience in international marketing and business development to fulfill the Arkansas governor’s commission that the World Trade Center Arkansas serve as the state’s flagship trade promotion agency.
Niccolo Lorimer is the president of Noble Harvest LLC, a logistics, shipping, and importing company specialized in Italian food and wine festivals and trade shows. An expert in customs, TTB and FDA compliance, he has helped Italian wineries and food producers reach their target markets in the U.S. for three decades.
Co-presented by the Arkansas World Trade Center and made possible in part thanks to the support of Regione Calabria, Calabria Internazionale, and Rosso Calabria.
Do Bianchi 