The kitchen, a technological and cultural hub. Interview with Edi Snaidero

The EFIC (European Furniture Industries Confederation), of which I have been president for five years, has achieved significant results thanks to its collaboration with EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office), which is based in Alicante, Spain and is responsible for managing EU trademarks, designs, and models as well as EU geographical indications for artisanal and industrial products. Our long-standing relationship began with EFIC, but the first to connect with this project was FederlegnoArredo. We have completed courses both as the national Federation and as the European Federation. 

One is international trade, where information and support are needed for export activities. The second concerns intellectual property protection, which is key for exporters unless the company has its own legal department. Another important issue concerns new regulations, such as those on deforestation. The Group’s support was crucial in this because many companies didn’t know how to navigate the legal context: this is a good example of what belonging to an association can mean, and how helpful it can be. In addition, there are even more stringent regulations on eco-design. FederlegnoArredo is well organised and relies on trained technicians. Non-members don’t have access to as many tools. 

Let me preface my answer by saying that, until last year, the Italian kitchen industry showed strong growth in exports. Italy and Germany are the two largest manufacturers of quality kitchens in the world, recognised in emerging markets as well as in North America. Over the past year, things have changed somewhat, partly due to the uncertainty caused by tariffs. The United States and France, the two most important export markets, have been hit hardest. The French economy has been struggling recently, and consequently, so have our exports. The tariffs have also impacted the North American, Northern European, and British markets, leading to uncertainty in the contract sector. I believe there will be a positive rebound this year, but companies must get used to living with critical situations. 

Salone del Mobile is about to launch a project focusing on the world of contact, where we will see significant innovations, highlighting the ability to develop environments and products tailored to the way people live, build, and sell products internationally. In 2027, this will lead to the debut of Salone Contract – with a Masterplan by Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten (OMA) – to explore the main themes of this evolving ecosystem. The event will pave a new path for the contract sector, which has been receiving significant attention from all our companies, not just kitchen manufacturers.