The future of food service can also be divined through those solutions which every two years win the Smart Label, Host Innovation Award, recognition bestowed by HostMilano in collaboration with POLI.design, through the sponsorship of ADI – the Italian Industrial Design Association, which in 2021 held the fifth edition of this now internationally acknowledged award.

Last October, 4 Innovation SMART Labels, 6 Green SMART Labels and 15 Smart Label, Host Innovation Awards were granted. We asked the winners for their feedback, and today we look at the future of catering.

UNOX won the award for its patented MULTI.Day Hot Vacuum system, the first and only sous-vide machine that seals food that is still hot directly in the pan used to cook it in. “The Innovation Smart Label we were awarded highlighted the uniqueness of this product both in Italy and on international markets, and how it has led to a broader interest in this new technology,” says the firm, which has decided to use the green label on its social media channels in Italy and abroad, devoting a whole section of its home page to the product and all the recognition it has earned.

What trends does the winning product pick up on and how does it benefit the user?

“One of the most keenly-felt trends in the world of food service is that of waste, but also that of delivery. The innovation MULTI.Day Hot Vacuum introduces, together with our EVEREO ‘hot fridge’, which will keep food at the right serving temperature for 72 hours, revolutionises the way food is preserved, eliminating waste and waiting times. With the MULTI.Day pump, you no longer have to wait for food to cool down for a certain period before it is vacuum packed, thus doing away with the whole cold storage link in the chain.”

RATIONAL was awarded the “green label” for its smart iCombi Pro cooking system, which “was an immediate hit with the market when it was first launched. Its smart operation and ease of use proved extremely popular with customers, and those factors really matter when you’re deciding what equipment to buy,” says Rational Italia’s Marketing Office.

The Smart Label, Host Innovation Award 2021 was communicated on social media and via national and international press releases and was entered into the company’s albo d’oro (a kind of ‘Hall of Fame’ for outstanding products).

Innovation in the food service sector will also be a prominent feature of the next edition of HostMilano, to be held at Fieramilano Rho from 13 to 17 October 2023. This 43rd edition of the show will present all aspects of the Horeca business: Professional Catering, Bakery, Pizza, Pasta, Coffee, Tea, Bars, Coffee Machines, Vending Machines, Gelato and Pastry, Furnishings, Technology and Tableware.