PUNTOITALY N°1 -January - June 2012

11 THE ITALIAN MAGAZINE FOR INTERNATIONAL BUYERS IN GELATO, CONFECTIONERY AND TRENDY FOOD-AND-DRINK Name: Aiipa is the Italian acronym for the Ita- lian Association of food product industries Set up in: 1945 Associated companies: 13 Associated member companies: approximately 300, of which 24 are in the Gelato product group Headquarters: Milan, with offices in Rome and Bologna (Italy) Main aims: to safeguard the interests and image of its associate members; to represent the food sectors and associate companies in relations with institutions and administrations, both at national and EU level, and with the financial, political, trade union and cultural or- gans of the various societies; to promote collabo- ration and solidarity among associate members; to offer consultation, assistance and services on general and specific items of interest. Website: www.aiipa.it Identikit of Aiipa What initiatives is Aiipa taking to promote artisan gelato abroad? The website www.italiangelato.info has just been completed in English and put on line. The website brings together all the information useful to all those wanting to become gelato op- erators, e.g. information on how to start up a gelato business, what courses to take, and who to approach to find the best ingredients, machines and equipment. It is a user-friendly tool, facilitating the entry of new entrepreneurs into the arti- san gelato sector. What are the greatest difficulties encountered in spread- ing the gelato business abroad? Italian gelato is fairly universal, although there are geographi- cal areas with less knowledge of and a lower level of famil- iarity with artisan gelato, such as China for example. Customs and legal barriers, which differ from country to country, cer- tainly complicate matters, and create problems in managing and labelling all the various products. Does the made-in-Italy brand continue to hold an appeal outside Italy? As regards the foodstuffs sector it certainly does, but we must make sure that we defend the brand in all the appropriate institutional and administrative forums. • Aiipa associated members Gelato products group The website www.italiangelato.info has just been completed in English and put on line. It brings together all the information useful to all those wanting to become gelato operators. Alvena, G. Anselli, CSM Italia, Bigatton Produzione, Comprital, Fabbri 1905, Fugar Produzione, Gei-Gruppo Essenziero Italiano, Giuso, La Preferita, Leagel, Linea Gel Italiana, Mane Italia, Meucci Igino, Montebianco, Nestlè Italiana, Nocciole Mar- chisio, Nuova Tradizione, Optima-Mec3, Ostificio Prealpino, Pernigotti, Prodotti Stella, Torronalba, Unigel.