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July/August 2023 II MAGAZINE business, and for us at CIC this has also become a priority. That is why we have designed anti-waste packaging. Our ethical commitment is declared in every Qualitaly package in both the portioning and yield indications. Because every company, regardless of its size and sphere of activity, is part of an increasingly globalised system that impacts and is impacted. And the resources it uses, particularly natural ones, belong to just one planet, which we must all strive to safeguard. Today, we are called upon to demonstrate our concern for a fair and sustainable lifestyle, respecting natural ecological cycles, human and animal welfare and the health of the environment. Our goal at CIC is to help reduce pollution from packaging by promoting a conscious and functional use of ingredients in the kitchen. These are the reasons why for years our customers have chosen to work with us, certain of finding the best product, respect for the environment and safety for the consumer! By Eduardo Mainardi, Councilor of Cooperativa Italiana Catering AT PAGE 6 #CICMEUP Once upon a time there was quality. Now there is Qualitaly CHOOSING A QUALITALY PRODUCT IS NOT CHILD’S PLAY. IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE END CONSUMER. THAT IS WHY WE CAREFULLY CHECK EVERY PRODUCT THAT ENTERS THE RANGE. COOPERATIVA ITALIANA CATERING EMPLOYS FIVE BUYERS DEDICATED TO THIS PROJECT WHO WORK ACCORDING TO GUIDELINES DRAWN UP BY THE MANAGEMENT AND STRICT PROCEDURES. Qualitaly, the name says it all. It stands for Quality, a broad definition, especially in the food industry. The Quality of an agri-food product is defined by UNI EN ISO 8402 (1995) as ‘the ability to satisfy the needs of the customer who uses a product or service’ . This definition denotes the needs that emerged between the post-World War II period and the end of the 20th century in a food market that is now global. The defining elements, particularly in the Western world, are multiple factors. Globalisation has led to an increasing standardisation of eating styles. In every country in the world, people drink Coca- Cola® and eat hamburgers. The production- consumption chain has lengthened and with it the need to increasingly regulate the quantity and quality of mandatory information that must appear on food labels and packaging. Changing working habits have led to an increase in eating out and the growth of ready-made meals for quick consumption. The growing demand for functionality and ease of use, linked to the habits of modern life, and in particular the need to shorten food preparation times, has led to the abuse of ‘ready to eat’ foods and ushered in the evolution of fast food. Functionality, correctly summarised by the Anglo-Saxon expression fitness for use , appears to be the main evolutionary factor in the global food market. However, changes over the last decade have exposed the limits of this definition. Climate change, rising energy and material costs are challenging the ISO definition of Quality. The geography of food production is redrawing its boundaries on the availability of water for agricultural use. Increases in demand and production costs are driving up the cost of food. The impact of these phenomena is such that food supply systems are being revised according to proximity to places of consumption, reproducing the ancient system of ‘proximity agriculture’. To redefine the Quality of food products, therefore, multiple factors must be taken into consideration, both of an objective nature, linked to the food itself and the production chain, and of a subjective nature, linked to consumer expectations. The concept of Quality has undergone a substantial evolution over time, conditioned by consumers themselves, who demand healthy and safe products. There is a growing insecurity and mistrust towards large-scale production, and their agro- industrial products, fuelled also by the repeated scandals that have occurred in the sector. Added to this is the search for products that are nutritious, but also obtained with respect for the environment and animal welfare. All these factors combine to redefine the parameters that characterise Quality, in