Grana Padano returns to HK with PizzaExpress

The "Happiness from Europe" campaign is returning to Hong Kong this summer through a partnership with PizzaExpress. From 23 June to 7 September 2026, 19 PizzaExpress branches will feature a special Grana Padano PDO menu in honour of Restaurant Weeks.

Grana Padano is one of the oldest cheeses still in continuous production. It was first made in 1135 at the Abbey of Chiaravalle near Milan, where Cistercians monks developed it as a way to preserve surplus milk. The name comes from its texture: "grana" means "grainy", a reference to the fine, granular structure the cheese develops as it ages.

Targeting professional chefs and mass consumers, the three-year campaign is co-funded by the European Union and centred on Grana Padano PDO, a hard cheese from the Pianura Padana (Po River Valley) in Northern Italy, known for its fine, granular texture and 900-year production history.

Done in partnership with local agency Hopscotch Hong Kong, Grana Padano has collaborated with PizzaExpress to engage chefs, consumers and influencers in promoting Grana Padano PDO across the city in the next two months. 

This time, the campaign returns to PizzaExpress with a dedicated three-dish Grana Padano PDO menu running across 19 branches for the length of the promotion. The partnership puts the cheese in front of diners through one of Hong Kong's most familiar restaurant brands.

Each of the three dishes uses Grana Padano PDO in a different way, from the sauce of a pizza to the finishing of a pasta. The menu is designed to show how the cheese works across familiar dishes diners already order.

For the main course, the featured pizza bypasses the standard tomato base in favour of a creamy béchamel sauce infused with Grana Padano. It is layered with earthy porcini mushrooms, savory mortadella, mozzarella, and a unique addition of sliced sweet peach, before being finished with a generous shaving of the aged cheese.

The third dish, a seafood spaghetti bianco, brings together prawns, clams, and mussels in a garlic and white wine broth. In a departure from traditional Italian seafood rules—which usually omit dairy entirely—the cheese is swirled directly into the sauce to add unexpected body and richness.

Ultimately, the seasonal menu offers a local window into one of the world's oldest continuously produced foods, demonstrating how a 900-year-old preservation technique still shapes modern dining. The campaign is promoted via social media pages such as Instagram and Facebook. 

Mark your calendars for 24 June! #Content360 Hong Kong returns with a dynamic, one-day event dedicated to pivotal trends—from the silver economies to breakthrough IP collaborations, sports, and beyond. Let's dive into the art of curating content with creativity, critical thinking and confidence!

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