Interest in extra virgin olive oil has grown significantly in the United States, thanks to the recognised health benefits of this product, which is increasingly popular with consumers. In this context, Italy plays a key role: in the first two months of 2026, the US imported over 10,200 tonnes of extra virgin olive oil from Italy, accounting for a 32.7% market share and a value of approximately $74.9 million, surpassing Spain, with a 27% share, and Tunisia, at 25.6% .
It is precisely to promote the culture of extra virgin olive oil in markets such as the US, where quality, health and well-being increasingly drive food choices, that EVOLIO Expo, the leading B2B trade fair dedicated to extra virgin olive oil and the olive and oil supply chain, is strengthening its internationalisation strategy and will be present at the National Restaurant Association Show 2026 – NRAS, one of the world’s leading events dedicated to catering, hospitality and food service, scheduled to take place from 16 to 19 May at McCormick Place in Chicago.
EVOLIO Expo’s participation forms part of a project developed by BolognaFiere, in collaboration with Informa, to create the Italian Wine, Spirits & Olive Oil Pavilion, an area dedicated to Italian excellence in wine, spirits and extra virgin olive oil. The pavilion was created with the aim of offering American trade visitors an immersive and structured overview of Italy’s food and wine heritage, through a tasting journey that showcases regions, products, pairings and cultural traditions.
For EVOLIO Expo, whose third edition is scheduled to take place at the Fiera del Levante in Bari from 28 to 30 January 2027, the move to Chicago represents a strategic step towards bringing Italian EVO to one of the most significant contexts for the international Ho.Re.Ca. sector.
Within the Italian Pavilion, extra virgin olive oil will take centre stage alongside Italian wine and spirits, with a focus on its culinary uses, pairings with the foods most popular with American consumers, and the organoleptic, nutraceutical and health benefits of extra virgin olive oil. The format also includes short, themed ‘speed masterclasses’, lasting around 15–20 minutes, dedicated to oil-and-food pairings and designed to offer professional visitors guided insights.
The partner for the olive oil area will be Filippo Berio, a historic Italian olive oil brand and part of the Salov Spa group, a company affiliated with ASSITOL – the Italian Olive Oil Industry Association – and with an established presence in the US market. Within the pavilion, Filippo Berio USA will help to explain to the American trade audience the value, innovative uses and pairing possibilities of extra virgin olive oil and Italian condiments.
“The presence of Italian extra virgin olive oil at an international event such as the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago represents an important opportunity to highlight the value of a product that combines quality, food culture and industrial expertise,” says Gianmarco Laviola, Vice-President of the ASSITOL Olive Oil Group and CEO of Filippo Berio - Salov “The US market has always been strategic for the Italian olive oil sector and today requires an increasingly clear narrative about the product: origin, safety, versatility of use and nutritional benefits are fundamental elements for promoting extra virgin olive oil among catering operators and consumers.”“EVOLIO Expo’s participation in the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago marks a new step in the event’s internationalisation, a trend already confirmed by the results of the last edition, which saw a 127% increase in the number of international buyers hosted, around 50 operators from strategic markets, and over 700 match-making meetings with exhibiting companies,” – says Gaetano Frulli, President of Nuova Fiera del Levante –. “Bringing Italian extra virgin olive oil to one of the world’s leading events dedicated to the catering industry means continuing to work to transform the quality of our supply chain into tangible value for businesses. Italian EVO is a heritage that combines the economy, biodiversity, food culture and health: this is precisely why we want to showcase it in the markets that matter, starting with the United States, where there is growing interest in quality products that reflect a distinct identity and are able to respond to consumers’ concerns regarding wellbeing and nutraceuticals.”
For further information| Press Office MY PR
Roberto Grattagliano – 338 9291793 – roberto.grattagliano@mypr.it
Marta Rutigliano – 351 0397141 – marta.rutigliano@mypr.it
