The second edition of the preview event for the Rice Festival brought together 55 Piemonte companies and 39 international buyers in Vercelli on 9 and 10 September, creating new business opportunities through more than 600 B2B meetings and strengthening Piemonte’s position as a leading destination for high-quality food and drink on international markets.

Vercelli, 10 September 2026 – New business relations, qualified contacts and opportunities for growth in international markets: the second edition of Risò - B2B Meetings has opened up new avenues for the Piemonte rice and agrifood supply chain. Held in Vercelli on 9 and 10 September, on the eve of "Risò – Festival Internazionale del Riso", the event brought together international buyers and Piemonte companies. It was organised by Piemonte Agency as part of the "Agrifood" Integrated Supply Chain Project promoted by Regione Piemonte (Regional Government), funded through the ERDF 2021–2027, in collaboration with the Monte Rosa Laghi Alto Piemonte Chamber of Commerce and ITA - Italian Trade Agency.

At the iconic Borsa Risi in Vercelli, 55 Piemonte companies and 39 buyers from 18 countries took part in a programme featuring more than 600 B2B meetings. The buyers, from Europe (Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Serbia and Sweden), Asia (Azerbaijan, Israel, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Türkiye and Uzbekistan), North America (Canada and the United States), South America (Brazil), Africa (South Africa) and Oceania (Australia), met Piemonte companies through a carefully curated matching process designed to align international demand with the region’s supply in the rice and agrifood sectors. Compared with the first edition in 2025, Risò - B2B Meetings has further strengthened its role as an international business platform, recording growth in the number of participating companies - more than 50% of which also took part in 2025 - as well as in the number of buyers, which increased by 50% compared with the first edition, and in the number of B2B meetings held. These figures confirm the initiative’s ability to create concrete connections and business opportunities for Piemonte companies.

The B2B programme was structured over two days, with the aim of giving buyers a comprehensive introduction to one of the flagship supply chains of Made in Piemonte. The first day focused on Piemonte’s agrifood excellence, with a diverse range of products including condiments, sauces, pasta sauces and preserves; confectionery and baked goods; beverages and fruit juices; pasta; chocolate and spreads; as well as coffee and other specialities. The second day was devoted entirely to the Piemonte rice sector, showcasing a broad selection of rice varieties and rice-based specialities that reflect the richness and versatility of the supply chain.

Risò - B2B Meetings gave Piemonte companies the opportunity to engage with highly qualified international buyers operating across a wide range of distribution channels: supermarkets, large-scale retail, specialist and gourmet stores, the Ho.Re.Ca. sector, shopping centres and online platforms. Buyers showed particularly strong interest in high-value-added products, including traditional Piemonte specialities – preserves, sauces, mushrooms, truffles and truffle-based products, chocolate, baked goods and cheeses – as well as organic, gluten-free and ready-to-eat products, in line with evolving international consumer trends and growing demand for healthy and sustainable food.

Among the participating buyers were companies such as Les Marchés Tau (Canada) and Lario International (Australia), both returning to Piemonte after taking part in Experience Piemonte and in the B2B meetings organised in Singapore as part of Italian Food & Beverage. These events enabled them to identify partners among companies involved in the Integrated Supply Chain Project dedicated to the agrifood sector. Other notable buyers included LTD Anglesey Food - Korzinka (Uzbekistan), Bravo (Azerbaijan), Konzum Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Domaca Trgovina (Serbia), all businesses with significant purchasing power and strong business potential for Piemonte companies.

Rice is one of Piemonte’s most distinctive agricultural products, with Vercelli recognised as the European capital of the sector. The Piemonte rice supply chain represents a major productive asset, with a production of 7 million quintals accounting for 50% of Italy’s total output, more than 1,500 specialised companies, and an integrated system spanning cultivation, processing and the commercial development of the product. Overall, rice cultivation in Piemonte covers more than 120,000 hectares, 60% of which are concentrated in the province of Vercelli alone (Source: Ente Nazionale Risi, 2025/2026 growing season). The sector contributes significantly to the growth of the region’s agrifood industry in international markets, thanks to its ability to combine quality, distinctive regional character and innovation. In 2025, Piemonte’s agrifood exports reached €9.6 billion, up 7.7% compared with the previous year, confirming the sector’s strong international orientation and its importance to the regional economy. In this context, rice stands out as one of the region’s flagship products and an important component of Piemonte’s agrifood exports, with a supply chain that has been bringing the quality of Italian rice to international markets for many years.

“Risò highlights one of Piemonte’s most distinctive areas of excellence and brings it directly to the attention of international markets. As a Region, we are committed to providing our companies with concrete tools and opportunities to meet new customers, build business relationships and enter new markets,” says Andrea Tronzano, Regional Councillor for Productive Activities and Internationalisation. “Through the Integrated Supply Chain Projects, we support this process by connecting the quality of Piemonte’s products with international demand that is increasingly focused on value, provenance and product reliability.”

“Initiatives such as Risò – B2B Meetings demonstrate how cooperation between institutions and the business community is key to opening the doors of global markets to our companies,” comments Angelo Santarella, President of the Monte Rosa Laghi Alto Piemonte Chamber of Commerce. “We are not simply offering participants a showcase, but a genuine business acceleration platform, enabling them to connect with international buyers and players with strong purchasing power who are seeking the excellence of Made in Italy. This is an event with tangible and recognised value, as demonstrated by the increase in both participating companies and international buyers. We are firmly committed to supporting it and giving our agrifood and rice producers the opportunity to grow on a global scale.”

“Behind initiatives such as Risò - B2B Meetings lies a coordinated effort that Ceipiemonte carries out together with its Members, starting with Regione Piemonte and, in this case, with the Monte Rosa Laghi Alto Piemonte Chamber of Commerce,” says Giorgia Garola, President of Piemonte Agency. “This work combines knowledge of the local production system with market analysis to identify the countries and operators offering the greatest potential. Our collaboration with ICE Agenzia and its international network has enabled us to further strengthen this approach by bringing qualified buyers to the initiative. This strategy allows us to develop high-potential segments, such as rice, while strengthening the presence of Piemonte’s agrifood sector in international markets.”

Piemonte companies participating in a Risò - B2B Meetings – Vercelli, 9-10 September2026
1. ACETIFICIO VARVELLO - www.acetovarvello.com
2. ACQUERELLO - www.acquerello.it
3. AGRICOLA AGORÀ - www.agricolagora.it
4. AGRICOLA LODIGIANA - www.lodigiana.com
5. AGRICOLA VENERIA - www.agricolaveneria.it
6. AGROVER - www.agrover.it
7. AZIENDA AGRICOLA PIOLOTTO STEFANO - www.aziendaagricolapiolottostefano.it
8. BISCOTTIFICIO ROERO - www.biscottificioroero.com / www.officinanobilibonta.bio
9. BONIFANTI - www.bonifanti.com
10. CASCINA BELVEDERE - www.cascinabelvedere.com
11. CASCINA SAN CASSIANO - www.cascinasancassiano.com
12. CASCINA SAN MAIOLO - www.cascinasanmaiolo.it
13. CEREAL TERRA - www.cerealterra.it
14. CONSORZIO AGRICOLO BEUME - www.beume.it
15. CORDERO 1958 - MOLINO DI BORGO SAN DALMAZZO - www.cordero1958.com
16. CORILU - www.corilu.it
17. DAVIT - www.davit1900.it
18. ECORÌ - www.ecori.it
19. EDIZIONI RICCARDO FRANCHI - www.edizioniriccardofranchi.it
20. F.LLI RUATA - GOCCIA D'ORO - www.gocciadoro.it
21. F.LLI CASTELLINO - www.fratellicastellino.it
22. FREDDOZZO - www.ilfreddozzodioleggio.it
23. GUIDO GOBINO - www.guidogobino.com
24. IDEARISO - www.ideariso.com
25. INAUDI FUNGHI E TARTUFI - www.inaudi.com
26. IRES - www.ires.online
27. L'ARANGIUMA - www.larangiuma.it
28. LABALOCCHINA - AGRIBPF - www.labalocchina.com
29. LA FAVORITA LIVE - www.lafavoritalive.com
30. LA SENZASEMI - www.facebook.com/lasenzasemisrl
31. LA SOLEGGIATA - www.lasoleggiata.it
32. LABORATORIO MARCHETTI - www.albertomarchetti.it
33. LANGA SPIRIT - www.langaspirit.it
34. LANGHE GOURMET - www.langhegourmet.com
35. LCT LEGUMES CEREALS TRADER - www.lctlegumescereals.it
36. LUIGI GUFFANTI 1876 - www.guffantiformaggi.com
37. MUNDI RISO - www.mundiriso.com
38. NATURALIA - www.risonaturalia.it
39. PASTIFICIO CURTI - www.pastificiocurti.com
40. PRIMAVERA FOODS FARM - www.cascina-aramino.com
41. RISERIA CERIOTTI - www.risoceriotti.com
42. RISERIA DI ASIGLIANO - www.riseriadiasigliano.it
43. RISI & CO – GLIAIRONI - www.gliaironi.it
44. RISO ALFIERI 23 - www.risoalfieri23.it
45. RISO MERLANO - www.risomerlano.com
46. SALUMIFICIO SUBALPINO - www.subalpino.com
47. SAPORI NOSTRANI - www.saporinostrani.it
48. SP - www.spspa.it
49. TAB GREEN LINE - www.tabgreenline.it
50. TENUTA CASTELLO - www.tenutacastello.com
51. TENUTA LA VALLETTA SOC. AGR. MONTANA - www.societaagricolamontana.it
52. TORREFAZIONE CAFFÉ EXCELSIOR - www.torrefazionexcelsior.it
53. TUTTOVO - www.biobonta.com
54. ZACCARIA - www.risozaccaria.com
55. ZICCAT - www.ziccat.it