T. Ozbun
Research expert covering food retail and all food topics for Italy and Brazil
Organic and free-from foods in Italy - Statistics & facts
As consumers become more conscious about their health, environmental impact, and dietary restrictions, organic and free-from foods have gained significant popularity in recent years. The organic food market in Italy has more than doubled in value in just over a decade, reaching approximately five billion euros as of 2022. Sales of organic food mostly occurred in large-retail such as supermarkets and hypermarkets, which accounted for over 65 percent of the sales share. While discount stores seemed to be at first rather marginal, latest data showed that they are catching up, reporting the highest growth in organic food sales among all other retail channels. This is no surprise, as when it comes to essential activities such as grocery shopping, customers facing financial constraints due to inflation often shift towards discounters.
Which food products perform best in the organic market? Both the fruit and vegetables categories ranked high in terms of distribution of food spending in Italy. Fruit alone accounted for over one quarter of overall organic food spending in Italian households in 2022. This can be attributed to consumers' appreciation for these products, which avoid the use of synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Additionally, milk and dairy also ranked prominently on the list, likely because animal welfare considerations were an element of choice for these products.
Free-from foods
The wave of healthy eating pushed the market of free-from food products, too. This umbrella term defines food and beverages produced by excluding one or more specific ingredients. Once consumed mostly among allergic or intolerant eaters (also on the rise), free-from foods are now becoming mainstream. They include gluten-free, lactose-free, preservative-free, and many other free-from claims, from cheese to bakery products and pasta types. Gluten-free and lactose-free, the most common type of food intolerances, were a separate category on their own and reached a share of sales of 12.1 percent for the former and 5.8 percent for the latter. Among the other types of free-from food, which in 2022 reached sales of nearly 7.5 billion, preservative-free products were those accounting for the highest sales share among the categories.Plant-based
Plant-based products in Italy reached sales of close to 681 million euros and have been growing consistently in the past years, with alternative milk drinks accounting for nearly half of those sales. These products are not only favored by vegans and vegetarians but also attract consumers seeking alternative nutrition options, often aiming to reduce their meat and dairy intake. Interestingly, there is a greater preference for these products among women compared to men, and they tend to have a larger following among younger consumers.
