At SIAL Paris, Grana Padano joins forces with Italy’s major PDO cheeses

From October 17 to 21 in Paris, Italian dairy excellence comes together on the major international agrifood stage

Berni: In Paris, we meet a market that rewards quality, reliability, and recognisability

Desenzano del Garda (BS), October 15, 2026 – Grana Padano PDO returns to Paris for the 61st edition of SIAL, one of the world’s most leading trade fairs for the food industry, taking place from October 17 to 21 at the Parc des Expositions Paris Nord Villepinte. The world’s most consumed PDO cheese will be featured within the AFIDOP collective area (Association of Italian PDO Cheeses), alongside the Protection Consortia of Taleggio, Gorgonzola, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, Piave, and Caciocavallo Silano.

The shared space, covering approximately 165 square metres, will be located in Hall 7, Stand B161. This area has been designed to present Italy’s rich dairy heritage to an international audience of industry professionals, foster meetings with trade operators and commercial partners, and offer concrete opportunities to learn about and taste these protected products.

During the first three days of the event, Italian-French chef Carla Ferrari, a finalist on Top Chef France and Executive Chef of the Pizza Cosy restaurant group, will oversee a dedicated catering service. Her recipes will pair the six PDO cheeses showcased in the collective area with French culinary influences, highlighting their identity, distinct characteristics, and versatility in the kitchen.

 

Throughout SIAL, the Consortium will host tastings of Grana Padano PDO Riserva and welcome consortium members, buyers, and trade professionals in a dedicated hospitality area designed for networking and business meetings relations. On Monday, October 19, from 7:00 PM, the presence celebration of Italian PDO cheeses will continue in the heart of Montmartre with the AFIDOP event at Coeur Sacré: a welcome aperitif, a journey through Italy’s PDO cheeses with the participation of influencers, followed by a buffet dinner curated by chef Carla Ferrari, featuring pairings of Italian dairy excellence with and traditional French ingredients.

“SIAL is where international demand tangibly meets supply, and where relationships that drive growth are built,” said Stefano Berni, Director General of the Consorzio Tutela Grana Padano. “France is our second-largest export market and continues to grow. In Paris, we meet buyers, distributors, and foodservice operators who recognise quality, reliability, and versatility. Presenting ourselves alongside other leading Italian PDOs strengthens the value of the entire system. In increasingly crowded markets, the more successful a product becomes, the more important it is that it is immediately recognisable  and clearly distinguished from imitations.”

In 2025, France imported 334,319 wheels of Grana Padano PDO, representing a 6.3% increase compared to the previous year and confirming its position behind Germany in the ranking of international export destinations. This result reinforces the significance of participating in SIAL and highlights the role of the foodservice sector, distribution, and trade professionals in spreading knowledge of this PDO cheese.

The 2024 edition of the trade show brought together over 7,500 exhibitors from 127 countries, more than 400,000 products, and over 285,000 professional visitors from more than 200 countries. These figures establish SIAL as a key observatory for food industry trends and a strategic platform for building new business relationships across global markets.

This participation in Paris confirms the Consortium’s commitment to the international promotion of Grana Padano PDO and to working alongside other Italian Geographical Indications, united in defending the value of authentic products and countering imitations.