On June 27, 2024, the 10th edition of the Food Industry Monitor (FIM) was held, an event dedicated to the macro trends taking place in the food & beverage sector and the analysis of growth prospects in the next two years, organized by the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo together with Ceresio Investors, with the media partnership of Pambianconews, Foodcommunity.it and Consilium Hub.
The theme of the conference, “Ten Years of Italian Food,” offered an in-depth analysis of the transformations and trends that have characterized the landscape of the food industry in Italy from 2014 to the present; at the opening of the event, moderated by Sebastiano Barisoni, Deputy Executive Director of Radio 24, the results of the research were presented by Gabriele Corte, General Manager of Ceresio Investors, Michele Antonio Fino, UNISG Professor, and Carmine Garzia, Scientific Manager of the Observatory.
This was followed by a panel discussion among managers, entrepreneurs from leading Italian food companies, who commented on the excellent results achieved related to the factors of growth, exports, profitability, productivity and financial structure, continuing with the sharing of perspectives on the future evolution of the sector. The conference conclusions were entrusted to Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food International and president of the University of Gastronomic Sciences.
The results
The Italian food sector has seen significant growth over the past decade, rising from a value of 53 billion in 2012 to about 90 billion in 2023. Exports have seen continuous growth, rising from 23 billion to 44 billion in the same period.
“It is necessary to emphasize the absolute excellence of the sector, which, in 10 years has known how to overcome several economic crises, a pandemic, geopolitical tensions and deglobaliztion processes, while continuing to grow above the national average, increasing exports and generating continuous interest in merger and acquisition transactions.” – commented Gabriele Corte, Managing Director of Ceresio Investors.
In particular, the 2023 earnings data showed an extremely positive scenario for the food sector, with 10 percent growth due to both the good resilience of the domestic market and the excellent performance seen in exports.
“The sector continues to grow due to both good domestic consumption and strong dynamism in the international market. Quality exports are a decisive driving force of the Italian food sector.” – explained Carmine Garzia, Scientific Manager of the Observatory.
The forecast for the 2024-2025 biennium
FIM is not only an opportunity to analyze historical data, but also to outline future trends. By analyzing more than 850 companies operating in 15 different sectors, it provides valuable insights into the profitability, productivity and business models that are driving the growth of the food and beverage industry.
Growth in the food & beverage sector will continue in the 2024-2025 biennium with rates exceeding GDP. In more detail, growth of +4.8 percent is projected for 2024, and 5.2 percent for 2025. Growing the most in 2024 will be typical Made in Italy sectors such as coffee, oil, spirits and wine, mainly due to good results on the international market. The positive trend will also affect other sectors such as pasta, milk and derivatives, and sweets, although with a lower growth rate due to the tensions generated by the distribution system and the contraction of consumption in some segments of the Italian market.
EEQF- #EnjoyEuropeanQualityFood, the EU co-funded project created with the aim of spreading and increasing awareness in Europe of the quality of Italian products with designation of origin and geographical indication, has come to an end. The closing event held in Milan crowns four years of work in which we organized events, show cooking and tasting sessions involving Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland, with the aim of enhancing the products and promoting the identity and cultural diversity of the various regions, boosting the economic and social revival of the territories involved.
The six participating partners contributed to the dissemination of the cultural significance that food and wine holds in our country, testifying to the excellence that comes from the combination of the territory’s natural resources, the art of processing and human experience. During the panel discussion, moderated by journalist Antonio Picasso, speakers included Cesare Baldrighi (President Origin Italia), Giangiacomo Gallarati Scotti Bonaldi (President Federdoc), Giovanni Guarneri (#EEQF Project Leader and President Consorzio Tutela Provolone Valpadana) and Giacomo Pondini (Director of Consorzio dell’Asti and Moscato d’Asti DOCG.
We would also like to thank the Vice President of the Senate Gian Marco Centinaio, who sent us a contribution in which he emphasized how EEQF was one of the most important initiatives on the Italian scene, able to bring together different realities to make the Italian and European agri-food industry great. At the end of the meeting, guests and press took part in a pure product tasting led by sommelier Noemi Brambilla, which was followed by a light lunch with a dedicated menu.
Yesterday we were in Madrid for the first event in 2024 of the EEQF project – Enjoy European Quality Food.
A three-year project, co-funded by the European Union, which aimed to promote some certified quality Italian food products through activities and events that took place in Italy, Spain, Germany and Poland.
Yesterday’s conference was held at the Ateneo de Madrid with speeches by Giovanni Guarnieri, President of the Consortium for the Protection of Provolone Valpadana, Paolo Casagrande, 3 Michelin star chef, Rogelio Enriquez, President of the Madrid Academy of Gastronomy, and Juan José Burgos, President of Slow Food Madrid.
Despite galloping inflation, the food industry in 2022 will continue to report positive growth in turnover of 12%, while the increase in exports will settle at +16%.
These are the data that emerged from the Food Industry Monitor of the University of Gastronomic Sciences and Ceresio Investors: the Italian observatory on the food & beverage sector which analyzes the performance of over 850 companies operating in 15 sectors.
In the Nuovo Mondo Economico article, Professor Carmine Garzia, scientific director of the Observatory, commented: «the inflation issue remains central to understanding how the second half of 2023 and 2024 will evolve, as a significant erosion of the power of The purchase of families would lead to a reduction in growth”.
While Gabriele Corte, General Manager of Ceresio Investors, underlined: «We must look at new companies with great interest because they will provide the lifeblood that will fuel the development of the sector in the near future. New businesses are not only an engine of growth, but also an agent of change and renewal of business models. Our research highlights how large companies are increasingly open to strategic alliances with start-ups in which they invest significant economic resources”.
ABreak, an innovative and sustainable service dedicated to the lunch break, has been activated for all AB employees, the Italian multinational global reference for energy sustainability solutions.
A RaiNews troupe, through the Lombardy TGR, accompanied by the representatives of the AB project, the Inchiostro Cooperativa and Consilium Comunicazione, was able to create this reportage which shows how the foodtruck will move between the various corporate offices, with a gastronomic offer simple, healthy, tasty and with an absolutely inclusive peculiarity: the service will be managed entirely by people with disabilities.
This morning we are at the Foreign Press Association in Rome for the press conference of EEQF, Enjoy European Quality food, the project co-financed by the EU for the enhancement of certified quality Italian food products, in particular wine, oil and cheeses.
The round table, moderated by the sommelier and food and wine communicator Adua Villa, was dedicated to the theme of Made in Italy at the table between territorial identity, sustainability and the market: challenges and opportunities. Cesare Baldrighi, President of Origin Italia, Elvira Bortolomiol, Councilor Federdoc, and Libero Stradiotti, Project Manager EEQF discussed it.
Also speaking on behalf of the government were the Hon. Marco Cerreto, Group Leader FDI XIII Agriculture Commission, and the Hon. Alberto Gusmeroli, President of the X Commission for Productive Activities, Commerce and Tourism, who underlined the government’s commitment to protect and enhance the identity of Italian certified products also and above all abroad.
The protagonists of the project are the six Consortia, whose work and value were told by their respective representatives during the event.
The morning ended with a direct experience of tasting the products with a cold tasting and a menu with pairing of dishes and wines.
We at Consilium are very happy with the positive outcome of this rich event, the organization of which we have entirely taken care of. Thanks to the project partners, the moderator, the speakers, the association that hosted us, and the government representatives for their important contribution.
