GALA

During the evening, in addition to the presentation of the Best Brands awards, Dario Caiazzo presented the 2025 Innovation Award to Mirco Cerisola, Country Manager Italy at Too Good To Go, an Italian startup at the forefront of the circular economy and sustainability.
The award was assigned by a jury composed of Best Brands partners and chaired by Teads. The prize, which consists of €120,000 in advertising space offered by IGPDecaux, 24 ORE System, and Teads, recognizes the integration of advanced technologies and innovative strategies to reduce food waste.
The award ceremony provided an opportunity to share the brand's success story—active in Italy for six years—and its role in shaping new perspectives for the sector, serving as a model for the startup and scaleup ecosystem by promoting sustainable and responsible practices.

The event, hosted by Serena Autieri, welcomed over 400 managers and entrepreneurs, and was enhanced by a performance from Marta Del Grandi, an emerging musician with an authentic international artistic journey, who captivated the audience with her song "Chameleon Eyes" and reinterpretations of great Italian music hits. She was accompanied by Maestro Vito Gatto—composer, producer, and violinist—whose musical path is characterized by the unconventional application of his classical background.

A keynote by Stefano Mancuso, plant neurobiologist and author, sparked reflections among the audience, exploring the theme of different forms of intelligence and the authentic relationships that can develop between them. In an era marked by growing complexity and interconnection, collaboration and the sharing of resources and skills emerge as essential elements for success. Mancuso’s talk offered an innovative perspective, inviting the audience to reconsider our relationship with the natural world and to recognize the value of non-human intelligences.

Antonella La Carpia, Country Lead of Framen and opening sponsor of this edition, also took the stage, introducing the evening with images celebrating 10 years of Best Brands in Italy and abroad.

The event concluded with the 2025 Gala, held at Officine del Volo thanks to the support of Pasta Armando, and with contributions from technical partners such as Althea Grafiche, Atelier Esse, BKM Production, Fedrigoni, Mionetto, and Neverest.