1. Meeting (12:00 – 1:00 PM) – Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario
- Address: 622 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1B4
- Attendees:
- ICCO Canada meets OPAS Coop
- Antonio Roda (OPAS Eat & Think Pink Canada Project Coordinator)
- Francesca Noaro (Export Manager, OPAS)
- Tiziana Tedesco (Deputy Director, ICCO Canada)
- Alessandro Bossi (Trade, ICCO Canada)
Summary:
During this opening meeting, ICCO Canada and OPAS Coop laid out the schedule for the upcoming business activities. Antonio Roda presented the key objectives of the Eat & Think Pink project in Canada, while Francesca Noaro shared export strategies. On the ICCO Canada side, Tiziana Tedesco and Alessandro Bossi explored potential future initiatives that align with both parties’ needs.
2. Meeting (3:00 – 4:00 PM) – Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (Online)
- Location: ICCO Canada Office (Microsoft Teams)
- Attendees:
- ICCO Canada introduces OPAS Coop to Meat and Poultry Ontario
- Franco Naccarato (Executive Director, Meat and Poultry Ontario)
- Angela Aiello (Director of Communication and Events, Meat and Poultry Ontario)
- Antonio Roda (OPAS Eat & Think Pink Canada Project Coordinator)
- Francesca Noaro (Export Manager, OPAS)
- Alessandro Bossi (Trade, ICCO Canada)
Summary:
Meat and Poultry Ontario discussed how their association could support OPAS Coop’s entry into the Canadian market by facilitating connections with importers, distributors, and meat processors. Franco Naccarato and Angela Aiello highlighted the importance of leveraging their network, while Antonio Roda introduced the Eat & Think Pink project. Francesca Noaro outlined export opportunities, laying the groundwork for future collaborations.
3. Meeting (4:30 – 5:00 PM) – West Shefford Food Co. Inc.
- Address: 2388 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4P 3J5
- Attendees:
- ICCO Canada introduces West Shefford Food Co. Inc. to OPAS Coop
- Matt Dunlavey (CEO, West Shefford Food Co. Inc.)
- Steve Polenz (Sales Manager, West Shefford Food Co. Inc.)
- Antonio Roda (OPAS Eat & Think Pink Canada Project Coordinator)
- Francesca Noaro (Export Manager, OPAS)
- Alessandro Bossi (Trade, ICCO Canada)
Summary:
Matt Dunlavey and Steve Polenz expressed strong interest in OPAS products, especially pre-cooked pork solutions. Francesca Noaro presented the potential for export to Canada, and with Alessandro Bossi, explored integrating OPAS products into West Shefford’s portfolio. This initial conversation opened the door to promising commercial collaborations.
4. Dinner Event (6:00 – 8:00 PM) – Stock T.C.
- Address: 2388 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4P 3J5
- Theme: “Taste the European Tradition with OPAS” Dinner Event
Agenda Highlights:
6:15 PM – Welcome by Tiziana Tedesco (Deputy Director, ICCO Canada), introduction of OPAS Coop and the event’s purpose. Francesca Noaro gave an overview of OPAS, its mission, and the “Eat & Think Pink” initiative.
6:30 PM – Start of the finger-food session, offering guests the chance to sample OPAS’s pre-cooked pork products, each introduced by the event’s chef.
7:00 PM – Main course presentation, continuing the evening’s culinary journey.
Parallel B2B Meetings (6:00 – 8:00 PM) at Stock T.C.:
- ICCO Canada introduces various partners to OPAS Coop:
Canada Wide (with Antonio Roda and Alessandro Bossi)
Chef Gabriele Paganelli (with Antonio Roda, Tiziana Tedesco, Alessandro Bossi)
Chef Dario Tomaselli (with Francesca Noaro, Alessandro Bossi)
Sodexo Canada (with Lorenzo Carlesi, Antonio Roda, Francesca Noaro, Alessandro Bossi)
Jan K. Overweel (with Pat Pelliccione, Francesca Noaro, Alessandro Bossi)
Terroni Group (with Giacomo Pasquini (Chef), Andrea Mammoliti (Procurement), Francesca Noaro, Alessandro Bossi)
Summary:
This evening event brought together the Italian-Canadian community, including influential names like Eataly, Terroni Group, and Gusto 54 by Janet Zuccarini, emphasizing the importance of high-quality product distribution through companies like Woodward Meats, MacGregors Meat & Seafood, and Jan K. Overweel. Media representatives (Matte PR), food influencers (Jenny Arena, Suzie Durigon), and institutional figures from the City of Vaughan (Raphael Costa, Christian Zavarella) further bolstered the event’s impact.
Attendees learned about OPAS’s Eat and Think Pink project, sampled the finest pork products—like bacon-wrapped loin and ribs—and engaged in valuable B2B networking. Chefs Giacomo Pasquini and Dario Tomaselli led culinary demonstrations, elevating the evening with a top-tier gastronomic experience.
5. Meeting with the Italian Consul General (Next Day)
- Location: Consulate General of Italy, 136 Beverley St, Toronto, ON M5T 1Y5
- Attendees:
- ICCO Canada and OPAS Coop meet the Italian Consul General
- Italian Consul General Luca Zelioli
- Antonio Roda (OPAS Eat & Think Pink Canada Project Coordinator)
- Francesca Noaro (Export Manager, OPAS)
- Alessandro Bossi (Trade, ICCO Canada)
Summary:
During this meeting, OPAS Coop provided an update on their activities in Canada, focusing on promoting high-quality Italian pork under European standards. Antonio Roda discussed the importance of Made in Italy products abroad, while Francesca Noaro shared strategies to boost OPAS’s presence in Canada. Consul General Luca Zelioli welcomed these initiatives, underscoring the significance of supporting Italian agribusiness in global markets.
6. Meeting (2:15 – 3:15 PM) – Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
- Location: Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario, 622 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1B4
- Attendees:
- ICCO Canada and OPAS Coop meet Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agri
- Bill Harvie (Economic and Business Advisor, Guelph)
- Antonio Roda (OPAS Eat & Think Pink Canada Project Coordinator)
- Francesca Noaro (Export Manager, OPAS)
- Tiziana Tedesco (Deputy Director, ICCO Canada)
- Alessandro Bossi (Trade, ICCO Canada)
Summary:
In this discussion, OPAS Coop presented the Eat & Think Pink project to Bill Harvie. Antonio Roda highlighted current progress in Canada, and Francesca Noaro detailed export possibilities in the agri-food sector. The conversation centered on how the Ministry could support agricultural trade between Italy and Canada, exploring avenues to streamline OPAS’s Canadian market entry.
Closing Remarks
Across two intensive days of meetings and a culminating dinner event, OPAS successfully engaged 34 participants from key food-service businesses, distributors, and the broader culinary community. From masterclasses to B2B meetings, these interactions paved the way for future partnerships and expansion opportunities. The synergy formed during these sessions promises a bright horizon for OPAS in the Canadian market, underlining the potential of Italian pork excellence and the power of effective international collaboration.
Full Report
