"When it comes to the implementation of the new tariffs imposed by Trump, we are in a waiting phase. The export turnover shares we make in the States are considerable, and the tariffs are sure to have an effect on the competitiveness of companies within the EU," reports Stefania Montali, marketing manager and owner of Industrie Montali.
"During his previous presidential term, Trump put in place a series of tariffs that also affected the high-end tomato canning sector, although in lower percentages."
"In any case, the exact percentage of duties applied will vary depending on the specific product and the relevant HS (Harmonised System) customs code used internationally to identify the goods. More generally, according to recent data, the USA, with almost 8 billion, is worth about 12% of all our global agri-food exports, putting us at the top of the ranking of EU countries, well ahead of Germany (2.5%), Spain (4.7%) and France (6.7%)."
Stefania Montali, marketing manager and owner of Industrie Montali, and Chiara Maini, marketing manager of Industrie Montali.
Industrie Montali is an Emilian company boasting over 100 years of history, and, in the generational change, it has been able to intercept the needs of consumers, anticipating changes in lifestyle and food consumption patterns over the last twenty years. The Montali family's initial canning vocation has therefore been expanded with the processing of tomato concentrate and the production of ready-made sauces in single-portion sachets and pâtés in tubes, thus creating a wide range of easy-to-use products.
The top products of the Easy Montali line are Linea Salse and the new Linea Chef. The Sauce line is available in the flavours Agrodolce con Cipolla, Cocktail, Barbecue, and Ketchup, available either in tubes or in single-portion sachets. Ketchup is the second most popular sauce in some Eastern European countries after mayonnaise, and is the flagship product in the company's product range.
"The new spicy pizza seasoning that we have developed at the request of our customers is doing very well. It comes in a single-serving sachet, and we are keeping the natural ingredients that make it up secret, although we can say that they include Italian chilli peppers. Although typical of the Calabrian cuisine, the product has been requested not only in the United States but also in Sweden and Spain. Now, all you need to make a tasty spicy pizza is a little manual dexterity and this sauce."
"As for the promotional side, we will be attending Milan's Tuttofood 2025 at the beginning of May, and subsequently PLMA in Amsterdam, an international trade fair dedicated to private labels in particular, scheduled for 20-21 May 2025." With a growing turnover, the company, made up of almost all women, has invested heavily in communication and product promotion over the years, succeeding in the recent conquest of new markets where the brand is growing, especially in the retail segment.
Between the snack line, ready-made sauces, catering line, and organic/vegan line, the range of EasyMontali branded products meets multiple needs and is aimed at the retail, H&R, and private label sectors. Exports account for a 90% share of turnover in the United States, Singapore, Great Britain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Belgium, and recently, Australia, Central America, and Panama. Interest in Italian-made products is also growing in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), as confirmed by the export data of the agrifood sector, which shows a growth of 51.29% in 2023.