Italy

In 2023, fruit growers faced numerous challenges related to climate change. For example, severe flooding affected many growing areas in regions in the central north such as Emilia-Romagna, which lost a large part of its cherry crops. This situation…

Full-service restaurants continued on the path to recovery after the pandemic with the category seeing an increase in the number and value of transactions, although the number of outlets continued to decline. Eating out at full-service restaurants is…

Gardening in Italy saw a significant decline in sales in 2023 which was in part due to the erratic weather which was linked to the impact of climate change. The country experienced severe droughts followed by heavy rains, creating a challenging…

General merchandise stores recorded dynamic double-digit growth in current value terms in 2022 with department stores and variety stores both seeing elevated sales. This performance was backed by a renewed sense of optimism as concerns around the…

Gum in Italy continues to achieve positive value and volume sales in 2024. Notably, gum consumption is strongly related to an out-and-about, sociable lifestyle, whereas such activities were curbed during the era of the pandemic restrictions and…

Hair care experienced robust growth in current value terms in 2023, with this being driven by significant price hikes across all categories. This surge can be attributed to inflationary pressures, which prompted major brands to raise their selling…

Sales of headphones in Italy are benefiting from the growth of the sports and health industries. As consumers increase their participation in regular sports and physical exercise, they are making greater use of headphones on the go, particularly…

Health and beauty specialists saw moderate growth in current value terms in 2023, although this was largely the result of price inflation rather than an increase in demand. When it comes to pharmacies small and independent players account for most…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

Herbal/traditional cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies is expected to benefit from another tough flu season in 2023-2024, with cases expected to be higher than pre-pandemic levels again. This should boost sales of herbal/traditional cough…

Home and garden saw slower growth in current value terms in 2023 compared to the previous two years, with this being driven by a combination of factors. Economic uncertainty and inflation played a significant role, leading to an increase in list…

Italian consumers make considerable use of audio content, from audiobooks to podcasts to listening to music. In recent years, podcasts have seen staggering growth in consumption thanks to the fact that several platforms, such as Spotify, have…

Value growth in home care in Italy in 2023 was primarily supported by high inflation, bringing up unit prices as volume sales slowed or declined. Though pandemic-related fears of virus infection through surface contact have waned, Italian consumers…

Laundry care is one of the largest (in terms of volume) and fastest-growing categories within home care in Italy, with sustainability a key trend in this product area in 2022, as Italian consumers continued to move towards “green” products that used…

Italians are passionate about outdoor cooking and grilling and enjoy using barbecues throughout all seasons. Despite seasonal fluctuations, the market peaks in spring, particularly around Easter, with summer close behind due to national holidays and…

Home improvement in Italy experienced slower growth in current value terms in 2023 compared to the previous year. This downward trend was largely influenced by Italy’s popular 'Superbonus 110%' scheme, introduced in 2020, which offers homeowners a…

The increasing frequency of high temperatures and periods of prolonged drought, followed by heavy showers, is believed to have encouraged the spread of insect infestations in Italy during the review period. In addition to the usual infestations in…

Sales of home laundry appliances have continued to decline in retail volume terms in 2023, after a steep decline in 2022. This is in part due to high interest rates which have made it more difficult for consumers to buy a new home, as well as making…

Home products specialists saw healthy growth in current value terms in 2023 albeit this was largely due to the impact of inflation rather than a significant increase in demand. Consumers continued to invest in their domestic spaces in 2023 with this…

In recent years, there has been a growing focus on the importance of the quality and duration of sleep for people’s health and wellbeing, which has been reflected in popular books and the mainstream media. Research has included studies that have…