On 11 May, the Federalimentare-Censis report "The economic and social value of the Italian food industry" was presented at the Chamber of Deputies.
The research shows that the Italian food industry, with an annual turnover of 179 billion euros, 60,000 companies, 464,000 employees and over 50 billion in exports in value in a year, is a major player in the Italian food supply chain, which has a total turnover of 607 billion euros, 1.3 million companies and 3.6 million employees.
Economic power and high social value
In the rankings of the Italian manufacturing sectors , the food industry is in first place for turnover , in second place for the number of companies, for employees and for exports in value.In ten years, the turnover has recorded an increase of 24.7% in real terms, the number of employees of 12.2% and the value of exports of 60.3% .
The food industry responds to internal expenditure which, as a share of total expenditure, is 16.6% in Italy, like Spain, higher than France (15.7%), the Netherlands (13.9%), Germany (13.4%) and the European Union average (16.1%).
Furthermore, as can be seen from the report, 86.4% of Italians declare that they trust the Italian food industry , a transversal trust, which involves 93.8% of the elderly, 84.2% of adults and 81.6% of the youngest.
Consumer assets and welfare
The research shows that:- 78.3% of the interviewees evaluate very positively that the food industry establishments are located in Italy, because they contribute to the creation of income and employment in the territories involved;
- 90.7% say that eating the food they prefer is important for their psychophysical well-being;
- 63.4%, while not renouncing control of the family budget, buy only quality products for some foods, regardless of price;
- 79%, while practicing subjective diets within the perimeter of typically Italian diets, appreciate the availability of new references in the points of sale.
Food styles and values of Italians
42.1% of those interviewed at table, in everyday life, define themselves as habitual, i.e. eat more or less the same food, 20.5% as an innovator who likes to experiment with new foods and gastronomies, 9.2% as health-conscious, i.e. always and only eats food that is good for your health, 7% as an enthusiast, i.e. takes care of the shopping and likes to cook, 6.3% an Italianist, i.e. always and only wants Italian products, 5.8% a convivial ista, i.e. consider food important because it is an opportunity to be with others, and 4.4% enjoy it, because they always eat what they like.But what do the interviewees eat?
92.7% are in the habit of eating a little bit of everything without particular constraints, only 7.1% declare themselves vegetarian and 4.3% vegan or vegetarian.
Finally, for the interviewees, the ethical and social values that guide them when they go shopping or sit down to the table are also important :
- 66.7% are ready to give up products that could be harmful to health,
- 52.6% to those not in line with food safety criteria,
- 43.3% to those whose production and distribution do not respect the environment ,
- 35.6% to those for whose production the rights of workers and suppliers are not protected.
Read the SUMMARY OF THE FEDERALIMENTARE REPORT - CENSIS The economic and social value of the Italian food industry