The goal
Greatest Tomatoes from Europe is an ANICAV campaign, co-funded by the European Union under “Enjoy It's from Europe.” First launched in 2019, it was relaunching in 2026 and needed to reach North American food media and influencers.
The New York launch
When Greatest Tomatoes from Europe relaunched in North America in 2026, the campaign made its debut at Armani/Ristorante in Manhattan, timed to the Summer Fancy Food Show, one of the biggest weeks of the year for the specialty food industry.
Hudes Communications International Inc. was responsible for the guest list. Before a single invitation went out, we built and verified a dedicated New York and New Jersey media list, researching the food editors, writers, journalists and influencers whose coverage carries real weight with home cooks, chefs and food lovers, and checking every contact to make sure each invitation reached the right person.
Every guest received a personal invitation from Nelson. We followed up personally with every invitee, answered their questions about the evening and the campaign, and confirmed each attendance one by one. We kept the guest list up to date as responses came in and stayed in close contact with every confirmed guest right up to the night of the event.
Hudes Communications International Inc. also hired the event's photographer and videographer and produced the photography from the evening, along with two videos for the client: a three-minute feature and a one-minute highlight version.
The work didn't end when the evening did. After the dinner, we followed up with every guest, sent them the campaign materials they needed to write their stories, and kept the conversation going. We then tracked every piece of media and influencer coverage that came out of the event, from published articles to posts on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X, and compiled it all into a full report for the client, so they could see exactly where their story landed and who it reached.
Watch the full 24-minute event on YouTube →
An exclusive journey to Italy
Invitations to the August 2026 educational tour were extended to a select group of North America's most influential food journalists and creators. Competition for a seat was intense. Every application was carefully reviewed, and the final group was chosen for their reach, credibility and passion for authentic Italian food.
We handled the selection, the invitations and every guest's travel arrangements, from New York, New Jersey and Toronto to Naples. On the ground, expert local guides took the group straight to the source: the tomato fields at harvest, the SICA plants where the tomatoes are canned at their peak, the ruins of Pompeii, and the island of Ischia.
The result was a group of storytellers who didn't just learn about Greatest Tomatoes from Europe. They lived it, and then shared it with millions.
Who came
- Gina Di Meo, ANSA
- Andrew Cotto, Appetito Magazine
- Dana Beninati, Dine with Dana, for Saveur
- Rossella and Angela Rago, Cooking with Nonna
- Anthony Zanfini, The Young Nonno
- Joanna Moeller, Spaghettiroots NYC
The results of the Italy tour
- 1,178,260 users reached
- 6,375,486 combined followers
- 196 pieces of content
- 16 published articles: 2 ANSA stories, picked up by 13 media outlets, plus Andrew Cotto's Appetito feature
- 12 more pieces confirmed and on the way, including Saveur reels, Appetito recipes for National Pasta Month, and more social posts
- About 3 likes for every 100 views
The influencers shared the trip with their followers, from the tomato harvest to Nonna-style cooking in Italy.
“Their work played a key role in building visibility and engagement for our European programs in Canada.”
MANUELA BARZAN — CEO, MB CONSULTING, NAPLES, ITALY
