The professional foodservice equipment sector is worth 5 billion euros. And it shows a marked propensity towards exports, which account for around 70% of its turnover. The data come from Efcem, the category’s European association. And while it may be difficult to calculate how much of that total comes from gelato and pastry supplies, experience suggests that the number is high.

One of the most interesting specialisations to emerge is that of pastry moulds and accessories. In terms of product innovation, there is a return to origins, say two leaders in the sector. According to the head of PR at Martellato, Michele Albertin, “recently we have noted a return to the origins of pastry, in other words lots of traditional cakes are being made, with particular attention to the quality of the ingredients used.” Another emerging trend is that of creating material that is tailored to customers’ needs, as Marco Beccaro of the Trade Fairs Division of Silikormart confirms. “We are very keen on this customised approach, in the sense of tailoring a product to suit the restaurant we are supplying to.”

Technology becomes more mindful

In the past few years issues relating to responsibility and sustainability have begun to play a major role and also the leading players in this field, who will be at Host 2023 have launched various initiatives. It is also of particular importance to Martellato, as Albertin describes: “We decided to involve our clients in our initiatives promoting sustainability, creating a forest of cocoa trees in Cameroon as part of the Treedom project, which supports local farmers.”

As regards energy and materials used, “the company is equipped with solar panels for greater energy efficiency. In addition to that, we pay attention to the way materials are used and processed, seeking to render our products recyclable and to re-use manufacturing waste in subsequent production processes. Sustainability is also a social matter,” Martellato goes on. This is also a question of inclusivity: “For many years we have worked with Remix, a local organisation that works to give work to frail individuals.”

Silikomart is also committed to sustainable actions. As Beccaro explains: “We introduced compostable packaging more than a year and a half ago.” And sustainability can also become a business lever, helping to win new markets: “The parties we focus on are b2b, and clients who require customised moulds. Most of our efforts are concentrated in Italy, because it is much harder abroad. The foreign countries we do deal with are Spain, Germany and France, but we also have our sights set on Asia as a new market,” the company says, in conclusion.

HostMilano is of course a highly international event, and both Silikomart and Martellato are focused on European markets, such as France and Spain. Albertin adds that “the most interesting foreign markets for us are the USA, Russia, Arab countries and eastern Europe, with a particular focus on emerging markets.”

There will be a chance to interact with  the international markets at fieramilano in Rho, from 13 to 17 October 2023.