Italy Abroad Food Subscriptions (La Tavola Italiana, Real Italy)

What's in the box: Expect a selection of Italian pantry goods from the shop's range, such as pasta, sauces, olive oil and other regional specialities, though the site doesn't give a fixed list for each box.

Italy Abroad has sold Italian wine and food online in the UK since 2003. Its food subscriptions, which include plans called La Tavola Italiana and Real Italy, sit inside a much larger shop. That shop's pantry range covers pasta, rice and risotto, tomato sauces, extra virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegars, cured meats, cheeses, biscuits, honeys and truffle products. The producers named across the store are specialist Italian makers, not generic import brands, so the boxes should have real regional character.

The weak spot is clarity. The front page doesn't spell out what goes into each food box, how often boxes ship or how the plans differ, so read the subscription pages closely before you sign up. Standard delivery starts at £5.95 and is free on orders over £100. The site doesn't make clear how those terms apply to subscriptions.

Wine has always been the company's main strength, and it runs a separate wine club. If your household wants both food and bottles from one Italian specialist, that's convenient. If you only want a narrowly focused pasta box, a dedicated service may suit you better. For a broad Italian larder from a long established UK importer, this is a sensible option.