For Valentine's Day nuggets, ravioli and heart-shaped pizza: lovers' food goes beyond chocolates

More than seven out of ten Italians are ready to celebrate Valentine's Day, reveals a survey conducted by TheFork in collaboration with YouGov, and expect to spend 13% more than in 2025. According to a survey Confesercenti-Ipsos, between spending and purchases, average spending this year will stand at 152 euros per person for a total turnover estimated at 350 million euros, which places 14 February among the commercial holidays with the greatest economic impact, higher than Halloween and Mother's Day.

38% of respondents will celebrate at the table, going out for lunch or dinner. To make the experience memorable TheFork respondents say they pay attention first and foremost to the quality of the food (65%) but the atmosphere of the venue, the type of location, the view and the service also count. The price? Seems to be the last problem, as it is only mentioned in 34% of the answers.
"These data confirm that people today are looking for quality, atmosphere and authentic experiences," comments TheFork marketing director Marco Bardicchia.

And not only outside the home, but also at home where the interest in experiences to be shared has led to the launch of new proposals. Alongside the dedicated creations of the most renowned confectioners and the most refined chocolatiers and the special menus proposed by chefs, the number of food companies focusing on the feast of lovers is also growing: from Haribo to Cameo, from Lindt to Loacker, from Caffarel to Galup there is a flourish of limited edition products or special packaging. It's not just the predictable chocolates, candies, sparkling wines or spirits, because there are also the Love Burger from Centro Carni Company, the Italian strawberries packaged in heart-shaped trays by Naturalitalia and the Birbe love spicy chicken nuggets by Amadori.

Heart-shaped are alsothe ravioli, cheese bites or pizza of Lidl Italia's For You line, which returns every Valentine's Day with a wide selection of sweet and savoury limited edition products. Made-in-Italy delicacies that also win over lovers abroad, as do the heart-shaped ravioli with Anglo-Saxon-style filling that the Raviolificio Scoiattolo has created in an exclusive limited edition for British retailer Morrison. If in Great Britain 80% of people say they want to celebrate Valentine's Day at home, in Italia too it is an important share (50%), to which they turn for service solutions, such as the special box with 'turnkey' dinner proposed by Eataly Smeraldo Gastronomy at the price of 90 euro.

Precisely in order not to miss the opportunity to include their products in the domestic Valentine's Day celebrations, many food companies are proposing special recipes born from the collaboration with famous chefs, as Voiello did with Michelin-starred Roberto di Pinto and Palzola did with Andrea Mainardi. The most 'daring' recipe is the one created by Damiano Carrata for Heinz: a maritozzo with ketchup filling that will be on sale from 14 to 27 February in the Lucca atelier of this well-known pastry chef. Even a master of the calibre of Iginio Massari has reinterpreted the maritozzo, which has been linked to marriage proposals since Roman times, and for Valentine's Day 2026 proposes it filled with melampo jam and raspberry mousse with candied lemon.