A new supermarket called EATALY has opened in Torino, and is expanding to other parts of the country. The idea is to gather many artisanally made regional foods under one roof – at lower prices. That last part is key, because there is already controversy about whether Eataly represents a dark Wal-Mart-ization of handmade, small production regional foods, while other think it is a great, innovative idea. How do they bring the prices lower than what you would find in your local gourmet alimentari? By buying in large quantities, of course, but also by buying out the whole lot – or even buying the producer! Hence some people’s discomfort.
The other controvery (polemica) regarding the superstore is the fact that Slow Food Italy has thrown their name and their considerable esteem behind this place as “consultants,” which would seem (to some) to contradict their traditional stance as a lefty non-profit organization, who have previously declined to let their name be used for any purely for-profit endeavors.
It looks like Corby Kummer wrote an article about Eataly for the Atlantic in May that says it is coming soon to the U.S., which seems like a very smart move. However I can’t access the article because I’m not an Atlantic subscriber.
