Importaco Nuts and Wonderful Pistachios have collaborated on an innovation and outreach event focused on pistachios, aiming to deepen industry expertise on this tree nut and highlight its potential as a staple daily ingredient.
The gathering brought together specialists from both companies across procurement, innovation, and marketing, alongside renowned chefs and nutrition experts to analyse the present and future of one of the food industry’s trendiest ingredients.
Below are the key insights from this project, which combines knowledge exchange and industry outreach between two leading pistachio producers.
Project origin
This initiative arises against a backdrop of rising global pistachio consumption and reflects Importaco Nuts’ ongoing commitment to advancing awareness and expertise surrounding tree nuts.
For international retail buyers and food manufacturers, pistachios present two clear opportunities:
- A versatile snack: Thanks to diverse formulations and textures, pistachios stand out as a key growth driver that directly meets the demand for healthy snacking.
- A key differentiating ingredient: Ideal for novel applications in ready meals, bakery, confectionery, spreads, toppings, sauces, and plant-based recipes—elevating new product developments into premium offerings.
Through a visit to Importaco Nuts’ processing facilities, technical sessions, expert interviews, and a culinary demonstration, Importaco Nuts and Wonderful Pistachios shared valuable insights on quality control, sourcing, innovation, and culinary applications, culminating in the development of four innovative pistachio-based recipes.
Pistachios: A rapidly growing category
Global pistachio consumption is projected to grow at an annual rate of 2% to 3% over the next five years (1) (2).
Its vibrant green colour (associated with health and natural goodness), distinctive flavour, and rich nutritional profile have made it an increasingly popular ingredient across multiple food categories.
From a nutritional standpoint, pistachios are a source of plant-based protein, fibre, unsaturated fats, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds. Incorporating pistachios into a balanced diet aligns with major consumer trends such as mindful snacking, clean labelling, and nutrient-dense ingredients.
Furthermore, its physical and organoleptic properties make it particularly attractive for product innovation. Pistachios deliver a satisfying crunch when used whole or chopped, a smooth base when processed into a paste or cream, and an appealing natural hue that enhances visual presentation.
Project highlights
1. Culinary demonstration at Fierro restaurant: Pistachios as a fine-dining ingredient
The event kicked off with a live cooking demonstration at Michelin-starred restaurant Fierro in Valencia, led by chefs Germán Carrizo and Kelly Wangard.
- Germán Carrizo is an Argentine chef based in Valencia, renowned for his creative approach and mastery of Mediterranean ingredients. His restaurant Fierro holds one Michelin star and two Repsol Suns, placing it among Spain’s most acclaimed contemporary gastronomy projects.
- Kelly Wangard, Culinary Consultant & Director of Hospitality at Wonderful Pistachios. Her extensive background as a Californian chef specialising in the culinary application of pistachios helped bridge global product insights with practical kitchen execution.
The goal of this demonstration was to inspire the food industry by showcasing how pistachios perform across various cooking techniques and formats. The event also aimed to encourage daily pistachio consumption by demonstrating how manufacturers can leverage this ingredient in current product lines and future developments.
The dishes showcased four key application areas:
Blonde Gazpacho with Pistachios
A refreshing, 100% plant-based interpretation where pistachios add body, texture, and a distinctive aromatic profile. This recipe highlights its potential in cold soups and chilled ready meals.
Crispy Potato Terrine
A dish built on layers, contrast, and texture. Pistachios act as a crunchy element capable of elevating a simple dish into a premium proposition.
Wild Mushroom & Pistachio Polenta
A savoury application where pistachios are paired with wild mushrooms and grains to enhance flavour, richness, and nutritional value. An excellent model for ready meals, side dishes, or plant-based ranges.
Espresso Affogato Pistachio Cream
A sweet concept combining coffee, rich creaminess, and pistachio. This recipe demonstrates its potential in desserts, ice creams, spreads, toppings, and indulgent products with a refined profile.
2. Factory tour: Connecting expertise, quality, and supply
The itinerary included a tour of the Importaco Nuts factory, giving Wonderful Pistachios representatives a first-hand look at the facility’s specialized processing operations.
Helena Solana (Pistachio Procurement Category Director at Importaco), Mª Carmen Herranz (Director of Product Innovation at Importaco), and Ricardo Miralles (Marketing Manager at Importaco) guided Kelly Wangard alongside Ismael Benyaacoub and Lieven Plets from Wonderful Pistachios’ European headquarters in Brussels through the facility.
The tour provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge on raw material selection, processing, quality control, food safety, and tailoring products to international client requirements. For retail and industrial buyers, these elements are essential to guaranteeing supply consistency, full traceability, and high quality for a rapidly growing market.
3. Product innovation sessions: Translating technical expertise into value propositions
A key highlight of the day was a joint working session featuring Importaco Nuts’ R&D, procurement, production, and marketing teams.
The objective was to exchange ideas on new pistachio applications, retail formats, international buyer requirements, and market opportunities for the wider food manufacturing industry.
Additionally, nutritionist Laura Jorge, a collaborator on this project, offered insights into the role of pistachios in a balanced diet and how to communicate their health benefits to consumers in a clear, rigorous, and useful manner.
4. Interviews with pistachio industry experts
To share key takeaways with the broader food sector, a series of video interviews was conducted:
Pistachio Nutritional Profile
Nutritionist Laura Jorge discusses the impact of pistachios on cardiovascular, metabolic, and digestive health, explaining how their nutritional profile sets them apart from other tree nuts. She also provides practical guidelines for incorporating pistachios into diets tailored for specific health needs, such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or hypertension.
Pistachios as a Daily Ingredient
Kelly Wangard explores the culinary role of pistachios, highlighting their benefits in terms of flavour, texture, and versatility, as well as the most promising commercial formats.
The Present and Future of Pistachios in Professional Kitchens
An interview with Germán Carrizo, Chef Ambassador for Importaco Nuts and its B2B brand, Itac Professional. He outlines emerging culinary trends, the practical advantages of using pistachios, recent innovations, and future market opportunities.
Innovating with Pistachios
Mª Carmen Herranz, Director of Product Innovation at Importaco, reviews the latest product development trends, highlighting the innovative potential of pistachios across both retail and food service sectors.
Shared Knowledge to Drive Category Growth
This joint initiative between Importaco Nuts and Wonderful Pistachios reinforces a fundamental point: category growth for pistachios relies not only on consumer demand, but also on the industry’s ability to generate and share knowledge.
For international retail buyers, pistachios deliver a compelling commercial package: an impressive nutritional profile, high versatility, premium appeal, and strong alignment with modern consumer trends. For food manufacturers, they represent a high-potential ingredient for innovation across both sweet and savoury categories, traditional formats, and emerging product segments.
Ultimately, this collaborative event demonstrates how pistachios can seamlessly integrate into daily diets and drive growth strategies for retailers and manufacturers alike.