During the 2020 coronavirus emergency, chefs and restaurateurs, especially in Italy, faced a fight for survival. “Support Italian Food Warriors” was an initiative launched by I Love Italian Food, with Kaiti Expansion and Italian Food Studio, to help them.

How the project worked

Alessandro Schiatti, CEO and co-founder of I Love Italian Food, explained that the team built a digital platform so restaurateurs could stay in touch with customers during the lockdown. Chefs shared the secrets of their dishes through online masterclasses, collecting a financial contribution they could keep for their own business or donate to a chosen charity.

Masterclasses were released through a webinar platform from 18 April to 28 June 2020. The project was supported by a group of companies that back I Love Italian Food, including Carpigiani, Fior di Maso, Montanari & Gruzza and Casearia Monti Trentini, and it drew backing from many associations representing millions of chefs and restaurateurs, among them:

• Associazione Italiana Chef New York
• UCI (Unione Cuochi Italiani) and ACI (Associazione Cuochi Italiani)
• ItChefs and Global School Palazzo Italia
• Italians Feed America
• Federazione Italiana Cuochi delegations in Belgium, Argentina, Poland and France
• Federazione Internazionale Pasticceria, Gelateria e Cioccolateria

What this means for hospitality businesses in New Zealand

The project showed how much a strong food culture depends on small operators. Majors Group has more than 30 years in the trade and helps restaurants, cafes and gelato shops with foodservice solutions, service and finance.

Source: Carpigiani news. Rewritten for New Zealand by Majors Group.