Podcast: what emerges from the first Confcommercio report?

In the contemporary Italian economic landscape, the distribution chain is experiencing unprecedented polarisation: despite the strong expansion of aggregate retail turnover, which exceeds 410 billion euros with a jump of 25%, Italy is experiencing progressive and inexorable commercial desertification. Between 2018 and 2025, the net balance shows the loss of almost one hundred thousand local shops, including traditional stores and street vendors. A profound structural divide in which businesses consolidate their financial strength, driven by the advance of discount stores and e-commerce, while cities lose essential commercial hubs. We analyse the causes and scenarios of this transition, as revealed by the First Report Confcommercio. 

The Italian food industry is at the centre of an epochal transition, suspended between global excellence and new structural vulnerabilities. Against the backdrop of exports approaching 25 billion euros and a system involving more than 900 emblematic Made in Italy brands, the sector represented by Unione Italiana Food is facing unprecedented challenges: from the impact of the declining birth rate on the workforce and markets, to the need to invest billions in research, sustainability and digital innovation. In an increasingly competitive and polarised market, businesses no longer compete solely on product quality, but on their ability to adapt to rapidly changing consumer habits. Which strategies will guide the future of Italian food? 

We discuss this with Mauro Lusetti, vice-president Confcommercio, and Paolo Barilla, president of Unione Italiana Food. 

Report by Maria Teresa Manuelli. 

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.