Supermarkets
Food retailers and leading supermarkets across Italy are always exploring new opportunities that will see them last longer in the business. However, countless variables influence the Italian food B2B delivery niche. Therefore, making correct predictions about foods highly likely to feature on most Italians’ plates remains critical.
Unlike in other countries, where people enjoy their favorite meals in food courts and restaurants, Italy takes a different approach, with an overwhelming number of customers buying their food from supermarkets. This is not to say that the love for quality food has withered out, but Italian supermarkets lead the pursuit of quality.
A General Outlook on Food Delivery
The earliest record of food delivery in Italy was in Naples, Italy, in 1889, where the royal family ordered a Pizza. Fast-forward, the Italian food delivery market is worth over one million Euros as of 2022. Four players dominate the current food space – JustEat, Deliveroo, Glovo, and Uber Eats.
Based on market data from these leading Italian food distributors, Roma and Milano lead in terms of volumes distributed. However, a closer look at Italian food trends reveals swift changes in consumer behavior.
With people struggling with busy lives and strained budgets, the food distribution market has been changing. This has resulted in a somewhat complex scenario that sees traditional and modern food delivery trends coexist; and, at times, pull in different directions.
TRENDS IN FOOD DELIVERY BUSINESS
Small Stores Dominance
Italy is one of the European Union’s countries with the highest number of small and medium stores.
As such, consumers are rarely hard-pressed to find places to buy good food. Coop and Conad are the two largest food retailers, with 25% of the market share, while the top five enjoy 52% of the market, which is relatively lower compared to other European nations.
The Rise of the Private Label
Private labels are fast becoming a mainstay in the Italian food distribution market. Although their market share is relatively lower than the EU average, almost every food retail chain or supermarket owns a private label. Traditional brands still have a firm grasp of the market, but this has changed following the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn.
Final Thoughts
Although consumer trends have changed recently, Italians’ attention to quality food remains. So, whether you need to enjoy Spaghetti alla Carbonara, Napolitana Pizza, Risotto, Arancini, or the Florentina Steak, there is so much quality that might be missing on TV available at an affordable price. Large retailers, supermarkets, or Italian wholesalers who leveraged their capital base during the recession are fast replacing traditional custodians of quality food.
But it still remains that independent food stores could make a comeback.