A new leadership bringing confirmation of a partnership that works. Restaurants Canada, the association representing Canada’s foodservice sector, has announced Kelly Higginson as new President and CEO, with immediate effect. As former Chief Operating Officer of Restaurants Canada and with over 25 years of experience in hospitality, Higginson steps in to make a real difference in her new role. That will certainly also involve an even stronger alliance with HostMilano (whose next edition will be held from 13 to 17 October, at fieramilano Rho), a trade fair that has, over the years, brought to the event dozens of high-profile buyers and professional operators from the association.

“It is truly an honour to be taking on this role. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the business of hospitality is an integral part of who I am now, and who I’ve been for a long time,” said Higginson. “Canadian restaurants have hit a pivotal moment in our industry’s post-pandemic recovery. Foodservice is a $100 billion industry and the fourth largest private-sector employer with over 1.2 million employees. As the new President and CEO, I will embrace the opportunity to represent and advocate for the industry to restore stability and predictability to our sector’s business environment.”

Canada and Italy have very strong trading relations. Canada appreciates both the traditional Made in Italy sectors and other innovative ones, which are often market leaders. These include agri-food and wine, mechanics and pharmaceuticals. The large, dynamic Italian-Canadian community is actively committed in the various aspects – cultural, social, economic and political – of bilateral relations and contributes to the success of the Italian lifestyle in the country. There are significant cultural and academic exchanges as well as interpersonal contacts between the two communities.

In 2022, trade between Canada and Italy totalled 14.9 billion dollars and Italy recorded a positive trade surplus: while Canadian exports to Italy were up 6.9% on 2021, the rise in Canadian imports from Italy was in double figures, at 15.6%.

Today, Italy ranks nineteenth in the table of countries in the world that Canada exports to and ninth taking Europe alone, while Italy is the world’s eighth largest and Europe’s second largest exporter to Canada.