Supermarket Perimeter - September 2023 - 33

In full swing
For the second year in a row, Italian
specialty meat producer Veroni was an
official sponsor of the Mubadala Citi DC
Open in Washington, D.C.
The event was held July 29-Aug. 6. A
week later, at the same time as last year,
the company was in Cincinnati again, as a
sponsor of the Western & Southern Open.
The Veroni sponsorships were full of events
and initiatives to gratify American tennis
fans by offering the best Italian food
experience, according to the company.
THE CHARCUTERIE CRAZE OF RECENT YEARS has led to a surge in demand
for imported specialty meats in US grocery stores, and suppliers are meeting the
demand with greater volumes and new products.
Sigma USA imports Italian meats branded under its flagship Fiorucci label and
Spanish meats under the Campofrio banner. And in 2022, the company added a
plant-based brand, Better Balance. The Campofrio line has also been in the Sigma
portfolio for less than a year.
Bulk and pre-sliced prosciutto di parma is the heavy lifter for Fiorucci, said
Shawn Munck, the company's marketing director. The company also imports
mortadella, though Munck said recent supply chain challenges have limited
volumes of that product.
Bulk and pre-sliced serrano from Spain is the top product in the Campofrio line.
Product comes from small deli packs to entire legs, Munck said.
The Better Balance line, meanwhile, includes plant-based shreds and other
products that mimic the flavors of chicken, beef and pork. Made in Mexico, they
are primarily targeted for foodservice.
Bulk prosciutto di parma has long been a staple for Fiorucci. In pre-sliced,
the 3-ounce has been the company's main item, but recently, Fiorucci added
a 12-ounce pack, largely targeted at Sam's Club, BJ's and other club stores,
Munck said.
Supply chain challenges led to a stop-and-start beginning to the program, but
volumes of pre-sliced and bulk product are steady now.
" We've started to get traction in more specialty and Hispanic markets, " Munck
said. " Even though it's a Spanish product there's a lot of consumer affinity for it
with Hispanics. "
For Lent, Easter and other specific times of the year, demand has been high
for whole legs and other large products, Munck said. Expect to see new products
in the line during the fourth quarter of this year, he predicted. Higher-end stores
like Wegmans and Pavilions have been especially receptive to the new Spanish
product. Some is also moving in places like Costco, too, he said.
Selling imported deli meats can give grocery retailers a point of differentiation
from their competitors, Munck said. And more and more are getting that message.
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Among the most anticipated events was
the Sunset Aperitivo in Cincinnati, an event
open to the public on Aug. 18 and created in
collaboration with Aperol Spritz, one of the
world's most iconic cocktail brands.
" Italian food comes with unforgettable
experiences. This is what we aim to do by
continuing to bring our culinary culture
to the largest sporting events such as The
Mubadala Citi DC Open and the Western
& Southern Open, " said Emanuela Bigi,
Veroni's marketing manager. " We want
tennis fans to become fans of Veroni
as well. We have been bringing the best
charcuterie since 2016 and we want to
continue carrying out our mission by
celebrating sports and the high quality of
our charcuterie. "
Veroni's deli meats were served to athletes
and their families and friends in players'
lounges and to fans at grab-an-go spots at
the events.
" We believe in the synergy between sports
and high-quality food. " Bigi said. " True
to this winning combination with tennis,
Veroni has also been the official supplier
of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome.
As a historical deli meats company, Veroni
aims to bring the full experience of enjoying
authentic charcuterie to everybody. "
SEPTEMBER 2023 - 33
Supermarket Perimeter - September 2023

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