Tomatoes

It’s a tough moment for the tomato sector, although the likes of Casa Julia, Silbury and Mutti are seeing encouraging signs.

With UK tomato supply predominantly reliant on imports, more sustainable horticultural practices appear to be the future.

Food & beverage supplier Mammafiore works with the most prestigious and quality Italian brands. Here’s their take on the market’s course of travel.

Maurizio Bocchi is the award-winning chef patron at Lancashire’s elite restaurant, La Locanda. So, he understands ingredient creativity and quality better than anyone.

Dhiresh Hirani, managing director at Mutti UK, talks the upcoming harvest, company ambitions and facing geopolitical challenges head on. 

As global pizza culture continues to evolve, Italian tomatoes remain central in the industry’s shift towards authenticity and provenance. Pizza chefs across the globe are increasingly moving away from heavily processed sauces in favour of simple, high-quality ingredients that allow natural flavour to lead.

A partnership with one of Japan’s leading manufacturers of tomato-based products signifies an important step for Silbury. 

For any tomato operator worth its salt, it needs to meet demand for authentic ingredients. The general consumer expectation in 2026 is restaurant-quality meals in the home, with minimal complexity. And in foodservice, operators are under pressure to balance premium requirements with tighter margins and labour challenges. 

EPS event director, Sarah Whittaker-Smith, explains why the show is so important for Italian brands wanting to make an impact in the UK.