B2Cheese, Bergamo's B2B event dedicated to the dairy supply chain, is approaching

On 23 and 24 September, B2Cheese returns to Bergamo: B2Cheese, the only international B2B event in Italy entirely dedicated to the dairy supply chain.

Two days designed to bring companies, buyers, importers and professional operators together in the same place, as well as expertise, information and tools useful for understanding markets and developing new business opportunities.

The market

Italian cheese continues to find space in international markets. In the first five months of 2026, dairy exports maintained a positive trend, driven above all by cheese sales to Europe, the destination for approximately 83% of Italy's exports in the sector.

The strong presence in the European market has made it possible to offset difficulties recorded in other areas. Positive signals are also coming from some strategic non-European markets: in the first five months of the year, cheese exports grew by 8,2% in Japan, by 9,6% in Canada and by 24,8% in Saudi Arabia. Consolidating the positions achieved and developing new ones is therefore becoming one of the central challenges for companies in the supply chain.

Two days for building relationships

The business dimension remains at the heart of B2Cheese. For the 2026 edition, the event has strengthened its incoming programme and relationship-building work with Italian and international buyers and importers, with the aim of increasing the quality and practical value of meetings between supply and demand.

This work takes on particular importance precisely in the current market situation. Consolidating the positions achieved, entering new channels, presenting a product to different interlocutors and understanding how demand and distribution are changing now require direct contacts, up-to-date data and a constant presence in the market. B2Cheese concentrates this work into two days, designed exclusively for the dairy supply chain.

“At a time when Italian cheese continues to grow in international markets, our task is to put companies and buyers in a practical position to meet and build working relationships. With World Cheese Capital, we are bringing to Bergamo for the first time the expertise that enables those working in the supply chain to understand these markets, rather than simply meet them”, says Francesco Maroni, project leader of B2Cheese.

World Cheese Capital

Alongside the business meetings, the 2026 edition is bringing World Cheese Capital to B2Cheese for the first time, a project bringing together in Bergamo some of the most internationally recognised cheese professionals.

Among the participants are Michel Fouchereau, Emma Young, Perry Wakeman, Delphine Georgelet, Laurent Dubois, Virginie Dhorne and Marco Zacchello, Italy's best cheesemonger 2024, along with professionals from various countries and with experience of international cheese culture.

The programme covers the entire process of creating value from cheese: from production to tasting, from maturation to affinage; from territories to markets; from communication to product presentation, right through to the counter, platter, trolley and service.

A programme designed not only for those who sell cheese directly. The masterclasses are aimed at producers, buyers, sales professionals in Italy and abroad, distribution and food service professionals, as well as companies developing technologies, products and services for the sector that want to gain a closer understanding of their customers' needs, language and working methods. Registration for the 15 professional masterclasses is already open.

The themes at the heart of the conferences

The professional dimension continues in the conference programme, which brings to Bergamo some of the people and dossiers currently most relevant to the supply chain.

B2Cheese will open on 23 September with a round table dedicated to the future of the cheese counter, one of the most practical issues for industry and distribution. The panel will include Paolo Zanetti, president of Assolatte; Antonio Auricchio, president of Afidop; Vincenzo Giuliani, fresh food buyer at Conad; Vincenzo Andronaco, founder of Gruppo Andronaco Grande Mercato in Germany; and Donatella Prampolini, president of Fida. At the centre is a question set to have a direct impact on the way cheese is sold and valued: how much room will remain for assisted sales in the face of the growth of self-service?

On 23 September, B2Cheese will address a highly topical issue: raw-milk production. The discussion will give a voice to the various parties involved – companies and producers, the medical community and food hygiene and health surveillance systems – with the aim of providing clarity without alarmism, addressing issues related to food safety. An open dialogue to compare different needs and responsibilities and identify solutions capable of protecting both consumer safety and a heritage of traditional cheese production.

On 24 September, with a conference organised by Assocaseari, the discussion will turn to markets and European policies, with Clal and Jukka Likitalo, Director General of Eucolait, called upon to analyse figures, dairy-sector trends and the main dossiers likely to affect the sector in the coming months. On the same day, the focus on the EU–Mercosur agreement and prospects for cheeses with a designation of origin will involve, among others, Brazil's ambassador Renato Mosca de Souza, Ronaldo Padovani of Ice/Ita Brasile and Riccardo Deserti, president of Origin International.

There will also be space for innovation applied to production, from rapid, non-destructive analysis technologies to new applications of artificial intelligence dedicated to dairies. A programme that completes the event's role: not merely meeting new contacts, but engaging with those who make decisions today, interpret markets and work on transforming the supply chain.

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.