While the international press might also be gearing up for summer, there was no shortage of financial coverage of Italy over the past week. Of course, reports from Italy have begun to be dominated by the features on suggested tourist destinations and cultural offerings that typically abound throughout the summer holiday period. Yet market developments have been far from neglected, with articles covering the investment plans of large Italian multinational groups (such as Enel, which is continuing to invest in Latin America), as well as remarkable deals such as the purchase by Investindustrial of a majority holding in B&B Italia, a move by the Andrea Bonomi-led company which the Financial Times viewed as a step towards creating an LVMH-style hub for the high-end design industry.
However, a large number of press items focused on tourism. From coverage of an exhibition on Vittore and Benedetto Carpaccio in Conegliano, to a piece on the amazing “free” deals that Riccione is extending to German vacationers, Italy continues to offer foreign newspaper readers holiday suggestions to suit every taste. There were also articles covering Michelle Obama’s busy schedule of cultural, gourmet, and shopping engagements during her visit to Milan, and the exploits of artist Mickalene Thomas in Italy’s art-rich cities. Such was the focus on Italy that The Times even took pains to point out to its readers that, thanks to new trains, the archaeological site of Pompeii is now easier to reach than ever.
Worthy of special mention were items during this period dealing with Italian cuisine and the agro-food industry, with the French press in particular turning the spotlight on this sector. Indeed, in addition to reporting on the controversy generated by France’s environment minister Ségolène Royale’s comments on Nutella, the press also focused on business developments for leading Italian food brands, highlighting the growth plans of Barilla (set to open a factory and hence expand into Northern Europe) and Lavazza, which is stepping up its marketing efforts abroad. Also appearing in the press were a number of features on Italian wines, starting with a journey of discovery delving into classic Prosecco, moving onto Franciacorta, and culminating in Campania, where The New York Times extolled the potential of the Falanghina grape: all recommendations straddling wine tasting and tourism in confirmation of Italy’s desirability as a holiday destination in the pages of the international press.