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Ikea is focusing on local presence and B2B. Meanwhile, Swedish food remains a key differentiator in large, traditional stores


It is no surprise that Ikea is focusing on local presence, even though business in its large stores still accounts for 80 per cent of turnover. The new initiative being developed in Italy, in Carugate, is a B2B showroom run by the Ikea for Business division. In the larger stores, however, food sales – including own-brand products – have developed very well and account for more than 6 per cent of turnover: customers can take a lunch break or do their shopping, buying products not available elsewhere. What it certainly hadn’t anticipated was that The New York Times would fall in love with 18 of its food products, among which the chicken meatballs and the small prawns found in the Nordic countries stand out.

IkeaPrivate Label
 

n.915

JBS, the world’s largest meat producer, has appointed a new CEO


Wesley Batista Filho (pictured below), aged 34, is set to take up the role at the global food conglomerate in January, the São Paulo-based group announced on Monday Batista Filho, who currently heads the company’s US division, is the son of former JBS CEO Wesley Batista and the grandson of its founder, José Batista Sobrinho. JBS’s US unit is the largest in terms of sales… In Italy, it owns Rigamonti and King’s Group, which, through the King’s and Principe brands, operates in more than 20 countries and is the market leader in the production of Prosciutto di San Daniele PDO. The group also produces Prosciutto di Parma D.O.P., GranSpeck and Prosciutto Veneto D.O.P. The share price of JBS, which is listed in the United States,fell by 5.8 per cent on Monday. … On Monday, JBS reported a net loss of $102 million for the second quarter. Its revenue rose by 14 per cent to $23.9 billion. JBS has long been criticised for its environmental policy. Written on 13 August, updated on 15 August 2026

JBSMeatProsciutto
 

n.913

Le cantine italiane sono ancora piene di vino in giacenza: 42,6 milioni di ettolitri a fine luglio


La vendemmia 2026 inizia con un grande enigma: dove mettere le nuove uve? Gli stock sono in crescita del 6,9% rispetto allo scorso anno... È quanto fotografa l’ultimo report di Cantina Italia (elaborato dall’Icqrf sui registri telematici) proprio nei giorni in cui la vendemmia è iniziata in gran parte dello Stivale o inizierà a breve. Con l’arrivo a pieno regime delle uve della nuova raccolta si rischia di accentuare la saturazione degli spazi di stoccaggio, aumentando la pressione commerciale su produttori e consorzi in vista dei prossimi mesi, mentre si aspettano- come per l'olio extravergine-  decisioni nazionali sulla gestione del potenziale vitivinicolo...

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
 

n.912

US: how consumer spending has changed over the last two years


In 2024, beef purchases accounted for a third of all meat purchases. This year, shoppers have bought far less: just 20 per cent of the total. The amount of chicken they bought has increased: from 41.9 per cent to 47.5 per cent in 2026. The average shop spend has also risen because shoppers have shifted towards membership-based discount stores (such as Sam’s Club – which is owned by Walmart – or Costco, for example): in 2024, the average shop spend was $66.13, compared with $72.31 this year The New York Times Below: beef from Costco.

DiscountMeatWalmart
 

n.910

The global olive oil market continues to show strong prospects for growth


After reaching a value of $14.86 billion in 2025, the sector is expected to rise to $15.73 billion in 2026, reaching $23.45 billion by 2034, with an average annual growth rate of 5.1 per cent... Premium and organic oils now account for 27 per cent of total sales, compared with 19 per cent in 2019. This trend is particularly evident in North America and Asian markets, where rising disposable income means consumers are willing to pay a premium of between 20 and 30 per cent for certified, traceable oils that meet high quality standards… However, these positive prospects must contend with an increasingly complex production environment. Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall in the Mediterranean basin have led to an estimated reduction in olive yields of between 3 and 5 per cent per year since 2020. This situation makes investment in efficient irrigation systems and the development of cultivars that are more drought-resistant essential…

Climate changeExtra Virgin Olive OilOrganic
 

n.909

The 6 best bresaolas from the supermarket


... How to recognise good bresaola A high-quality bresaola generally has a uniform red colour, with possible slight variations depending on the cut and the curing process. The slices should be firm, springy and tender to the bite, without being dry, sticky or stringy. On the nose, the aroma should be delicate, with notesof matured meat and well-integrated spices. On the palate, the savouriness should complement the flavour of the meat without overpowering it. Less impressive examples, on the other hand, tend to have overpowering aromas, a texture that is either too moist or too dry, and an excess of salt that masks all other nuances... The top 6 are: Conad, Salumificio Panzeri, Flli. Beretta, Ghiotto, Consilia and Rigamonti (JBS).

ConadJBSMeat
 

n.907

Climate: Italy could lose 74 billion and 960,000 jobs if temperatures rise by 2 °C


In Italy, the 2015–2018 drought resulted in a reduction of 1.45 percentage points in per capita GDP growth (around €24.3 billion) and the loss of 330,000 jobs. The 2022 drought was even worse, resulting in a €43 billion reduction in GDP. In a scenario where temperatures are 2 °C higher than in the pre-industrial period, losses in Italy could rise to 3.99 percentage points (around €74 billion) and 960,000 jobs. These are the figures and estimates contained in the study *Multi-Year Droughts and Their Compounding Economic Impacts in Europe*, conducted by researchers at the CMCC Foundation (Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change... Below: burnt maize in Albiate

Climate change
 

n.906

Why double-reduction auctions are still permitted


They are banned in Italy, but all you need to do is organise them in another European country and that’s it. Producers and some politicians are calling for an ‘EU ban’. In the meantime, however, it is farmers and food safety that are bearing the brunt The latest digital lowest-bid auction took place on 30 June, as documentedin *Internazionale* byStefano Liberti and Fabio Ciconte: some of Italy’s leading tomato processors logged on to take part in an auction offering 8.5 million packs of tomato purée, peeled tomatoes, chopped tomatoes and tomato paste, totalling around 15,000 tonnes of product. The auction was organised by Constellation, a European purchasing group acting on behalf of six major food retail groups – including the British firm Brakes, the German firm Chefs Culinar and the Italian firm Marr...

Agriculture