Strategic Partnership
MELIUS × RIAE / FIPE
A privileged alliance between MELIUS, the RIAE circuit and the FIPE coordination — uniting two shared missions to valorise authentic Italian restaurants beyond Italy.
An innovative initiative that fills a gap that lasted decades.
A shared mission
MELIUS and RIAE, aligned
RIAE — the Coordinamento dei Ristoranti Italiani Autentici all'Estero (Coordination of Authentic Italian Restaurants Abroad) — exists to valorise Italian dining outside Italy and expand the network of authentic Italian restaurants worldwide. Founded in 2017, it is coordinated with FIPE, the Italian Federation of Public Businesses.
MELIUS was born in 2017 to pursue the same goals and, from February 2026, evolved into an interactive guide. MELIUS and RIAE share a common mission — the foundation of this collaboration.
The quality premise. RIAE applies a rigorous entry selection and filtering process to attest the authenticity of its member restaurants. On this basis of trust, MELIUS lists RIAE restaurants at the Melius Badge level with a guaranteed minimum starting rating of 2 tricolor flags (out of 5).
Exclusive advantages
What RIAE restaurants gain in MELIUS
Favourable conditions and heightened visibility for every restaurant that carries the RIAE mark of authenticity.
Free listing
Registration and listing on the guide are completely free of charge for RIAE restaurants.
Premium authenticity exposure
RIAE restaurants receive a special "Authenticity" score and greater visual prominence than other venues.
Advanced filters — 6 months free
Free enablement of general and individual search filters for the first six months.
Special Filters programme
Optional access to targeted user searches (e.g. "I want to eat vegetarian in this restaurant") — a service not normally available to other listings.
Optional marketing
Restaurants may opt in (paid) to specific marketing campaigns promoted by MELIUS.
Badge with a head start
Automatic placement at the Melius Badge tier with a minimum of 2 of 5 tricolor flags, recognising verified RIAE authenticity.
Gemellaggi Melius
The Restaurant Twinning Programme
Pairing selected MELIUS-listed restaurants abroad with one or more restaurants in Italy — each functioning as a true "Embassy" of its territory.
- Keep restaurants abroad closely connected to Italy and to specific regional areas.
- Promote restaurants in Italy that clients of Italian restaurants abroad can visit when they travel — cross-storytelling between the two sides of the table.
- A dedicated MELIUS section will list and rate the partner restaurants in Italy.
Cross Menus
A symbolic dish from the twinned restaurant enters your menu, with periodic chef and staff exchanges.
The First Gathering
An inaugural meeting in Italy for all twinned restaurants — to be repeated annually.
International Launch
Official presentation in Dubai at the 17th Italian Cuisine World Summit (end November 2026).
Coordinated Sponsorships
An on-going promotional programme backed by institutional partners and commercial sponsors, benefiting local agri-food producers.
Total synergy with RIAE
The programme runs in close coordination with RIAE: it is open to all, but restaurants abroad must join RIAE to participate. The promotional plan is drawn up jointly, with RIAE actively seeking sponsors, commercial partners and institutional patronage. Twinned restaurants display a special MELIUS logo and enjoy strong visibility.
Next steps
The road to a framework agreement
- 01
Memorandum of Understanding
A letter of intent / pre-agreement between RIAE / FIPE and MELIUS (Argos Star).
- 02
Authorisation to contact
Both parties use the pre-agreement as an institutional basis to officially contact individual restaurants — existing members and potential new ones.
- 03
Operational plan
Once the framework agreement is reached, proceed to detailed operational planning and the launch plan.