Italy’s family-owned coffee companies are all affected by consolidation of the global coffee market, but they are adopting very different strategies in response. Massimo Zanetti funds a wave of purchases with an IPO, while Lavazza expands but stays ...

Italy’s economy suffered more extensively than its European peers from the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, owing to imbalances in its banking sector and high public debt levels. A moderate recovery is underway, supported by quantitative easing ...

Eyewear in Italy registered further positive growth in 2017, with sales driven by demographic factors such as the ageing of the Italian population and manufacturer efforts to increase the penetration of products such as sunglasses and contact lenses....

Different types and features of innovative spectacles, and spectacle lenses in particular, are creating new and thus more occasions to wear glasses. Product launches over the review period included lightweight lenses catering for various eye health ...

Low purchasing power and a great deal of political uncertainty continue to affect purchases of bags and luggage nationwide, particularly with regard to luxury brands. Sales of luxury brand bags and luggage in Italy are notably fuelled by Chinese and ...

Jewellery value sales declined again in 2017 showing negative development in particular for costume jewellery. Main factors behind the decline were general instability in political and economic contexts, uncertainty about the future and high ...

In 2017, personal accessories in Italy continues to register a sluggish performance following the weak trend earlier in the review period. Despite the economy recording positive GDP growth in 2016 and likely also remaining positive during 2017, this ...

Watches recorded value sales growth of 1% in 2017, although volume sales declined by 5%. The main contributor to the positive development in value sales was the growing demand for premium mid-priced to high-priced luxury watches. For many consumers, ...

Writing instruments volume sales fell marginally in 2017, with the growing penetration of electronic devices, such as tablets, laptops and computers, meaning consumers have less need to physically write things down. In order to counter this trend, ...

In 2016 beer performed well thanks in part to a hot summer. However, despite increased consumption, Italian consumers continued to try to save money as a consequence of the prolonged financial crisis and changed consumption behaviour. In addition the...

Cider/perry registered total volume growth of 6% to reach 33,000 litres in 2016. The category is not mature and Italian consumers continued to increase their knowledge and appreciation of the product, which drove growth. This represented an important...

In 2016 alcoholic drinks performed well thanks to renewed interest in the category. Despite the longstanding financial crisis and reduced disposable incomes, Italians still like to have a drink as a small treat or when socialising with friends. ...

The performance of RTDs/high-strength premixes remained positive in 2016, with total volume growth of 5% to reach 60 million litres. The category benefited from the traditional popularity of aperitifs, consumed both at home as well as in foodservice ...

Consumption of spirits declined in 2016 due to greater competition from other alcoholic drinks. However, consumers tended to purchase better-quality products....

Wine registered total volume growth of 2% in 2016. Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable and passionate about wine and like to drink it with friends and family, and as an aperitif....

The significant growth seen in toys and games in 2016 signalled an improvement on the growth seen over the review period, which was already encouraging. The growth seen in video games was driven by video games software (digital), in particular mobile...

The current value growth of 5% seen in traditional toys and games in 2016 marked a further enhancement compared to the situation in 2014-2015. In 2016 manufacturers within traditional toys and games were very strongly focused on their niches which ...

Video games saw slightly slower current value growth in 2016 compared to the previous year, as video games hardware performed badly both in handheld and static consoles. AR/VR headsets saw a strong entrance but it has not been as influential as ...

As the economy in Italy improves, current value growth in 2016 also faced a slow improvement compared to the previous period. The growing presence of home improvement and gardening retailers has contributed to the increase of promotional activity and...

In 2016, home furnishings experienced a decline of 1% in current value terms. Difficulties were related to the tax credit bonus mobili, which enabled Italian consumers to proceed with those purchases that were previously postponed. This has benefited...