Tell us about your latest business development?

In recent years, Carnevale Group has invested heavily in new depots across the country, greener and more sustainable vans and lorries, and the creation of dozens of new jobs.

At Carnevale, we are more than just passionate about products; we are passionate about the planet. Safeguarding the environment is one of our top priorities. Since 2011, our commitment to renewable energy has been clear, with over 500 solar panels installed on our warehouses. These have generated hundreds of thousands of Kwh of clean electricity.

Last year, we invested in new machinery to produce quality, filled fresh pasta in central London, which was launched under the new Passione Pasta range. We also embarked on a considerable investment project into our dairy production in Bedford, particularly our award-winning burrata and stracciatella where a new, high-capacity production line will allow us to make these products on an industrial scale in the UK – the only one of its kind! We also installed a new ricotta bagging line to offer this product in 10kg recyclable pouches for manufacturing and are currently installing a Fior di Latte maturation line with a view to improving its quality and consistency.

Our products are sold under the Carnevale brand, as well as Valerio, which boasts a long, family heritage, having been founded in 1964. Valerio manufactures premium, artisan Italian cheese and meat products, using carefully selected British raw materials and traditional Italian production machinery and methods. This allows us to supply fresh, daily made products while preserving and guaranteeing exceptional flavours, textures and aromas.

We are proud of our authentic Italian cheeses, made fresh every day using the finest British milk. From creamy mozzarella and burrata to delicate ricotta and milky Fior di Latte, we combine Italian tradition with British excellence.

I understand Carnevale is celebrating a major milestone in 2026.

This year is our 60th anniversary. It was in 1966 that two young brothers, Carmine and Giovanni Carnevale, from the Apennine village of Capracotta in Molise, Southern Italy, established the company and began manufacturing and selling mozzarella and ricotta in central London. At that time, fresh Italian cheeses were almost unknown in some parts of Italy, let alone the UK!

The brothers were subsequently joined by other family members and thanks to sacrifice, vision and passion, we have been able to offer the British market the finest UK-manufactured Fior di Latte, burrata, fresh pasta, sausages and pepperoni, as well as a comprehensive assortment of imported Italian produce.

Today, Carnevale has six distribution depots, three BRC-accredited manufacturing sites and a portfolio of over 3000 food and drinks. Over the years, our journey has been characterised by a continuous pursuit of quality and respect for tradition, alongside innovation and openness to the future. 

Thanks to this commitment, we are proud to have received numerous awards for our manufactured products over the years.

Italian food is on a real high in the UK – is this a trend you are seeing?

It’s certainly a very important part of modern British culture. From pizza to pasta, cured meats and cheeses to regional specialities, desserts and of course wines and other drinks, we can see the significant impact that Italian culinary tradition has had on British society. An important role in this evolution has been played by the many restaurants, pizzerias, delis and bars across the country.

We believe there is still significant room for growth, particularly through higher quality food & beverages – alongside a wider appreciation of authentic regional Italian products in Britain. It is important for us to play an active role in this change by educating customers and helping them discover some real gems. We also believe that in a post-Brexit Britain where sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint are high on everyone’s agenda, that there will be further interest in UK manufactured, Italian produce. 

Are there key consumer trends standing out right now?

In addition to Italian products that have become popular in the UK in recent years – such as pistachio, burrata, and ‘nduja – we see that consumers are increasingly moving towards higher quality, regional options, not necessarily those with PDO or PGI certification.

Every region of Italy is diverse and rich in local products that are the result of a long history, ingenuity and sacrifice over the centuries. Italy is home to some of the best cheeses in the world, with hundreds of varieties that form an essential part of the country’s identity and play a key role in the Mediterranean diet. It is because of this that Italian cuisine was recently recognised by UNESCO for its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Obviously, times are tough in hospitality. How are you adapting to this?

We are aware that the situation is challenging, due to rising costs and changes in customer lifestyles. We are proud to offer a wide and diverse product range designed to meet the needs of every customer, supporting them with an efficient delivery service and credit agreements..

For many products, we provide multiple quality levels at different prices, delivering options that best suit different requirements, while still guaranteeing exceptional quality. As always, we are pleased to offer free delivery all over the UK with no minimum order, which we believe is particularly important, especially at a time when many businesses are trying to limit their outgoings.

For us, quality products, outstanding service and punctual and efficient delivery are essential to building strong and lasting relationships.

Who do you partner with and how would you like to grow? 

We work with hundreds of suppliers in both Italy and the UK and are proud to have maintained long-standing partnerships with some of the biggest names in the Italian food industry, in some cases for decades!

Looking ahead, we aim to expand our network of suppliers, allowing us to offer our customers an even wider range of products that represent all regions of Italy.