Over the past few editions, Canada has been well represented among the foreign countries that come together at HostMilano every two years, in terms of both exhibitors and profiled buyers. But the interest of this north American country towards the International Hospitality Exhibition is also seen in visitor numbers, thanks among other things to alliances with various local HoReCa associations.

ExportPlanning provides us with a snapshot of the situation. Trade between Italia and Canada was worth 97.7 million euros in 2021, almost all of which was accounted for by exports to Canada from Italy. Over the period 2022-2025, exports will rise to 143 million euros (CAGR: +10.1%).

And again, the area in which most exports from Italy occur by value is in Professional Foodservice, with over 42 million euros generated in 2021, a figure forecast to rise to almost 70 million euros by 2025 (CAGR: +13.3%). Sales on the Canadian market account for 3.3% of Italian exports in this area (a percentage that is expected to rise to 4.6% in 2025). So although the Italian presence is increasing (by +2.1% al 2025) it is still fairly limited, with a market share of 1.6% in a competitive framework dominated by rivalry with the USA (which holds 40.8% of the market) and China (34.4%).

Between now and 2025, the top Professional Foodservice segment looks set to be refrigeration equipment (11.1 million euros in 2021, with forecasts for 2025 indicating a CAGR of +34.2%). Of particular interest are sales in kitchen, electrical ovens and hobs (12 million euros, forecast to rise to as high as 16.8 million euros by 2025 (CAGR: +8.7%).

Also worth highlighting is the performance of Coffee-making Equipment and Vending Machines exports to Canada. In 2021 these sales accounted for just 1.4% of total Italian exports in the division at 15.6 million euros, and accounted for 9.6% of world sales to the Canadian market, but that could rise to 21.5 million euros by 2025 (CAGR: +8.4%), with a market share of 10.8% (and ranking second only to the USA in the league table of trading partners).

Bread and Pastry-making Machinery recorded a total of over 25 million euros, a figure that should rise to almost 33 million euros by 2025 (CAGR: +6.9%). This would put Italy ahead of the USA as the leading trading partner in the sector with a share of 19.6%. Bread-making machinery leads the way here for Italian exports, with 23.6 million euros in 2021 and a growth to 31 million euros forecast for 2025.