The food industry in Italy – Data 2015
Food & beverage 2015: market structure, consumption trends and packaging types.
Federalimentare declared 2015 a “year of light and shadow” for the Italian food & beverage market, which ended the year with a turnover of 132 billion Euro, largely equal with 2014 levels.
In quantitative terms, the food industry’s overall production dropped slightly (-0.6%) compared to the previous year. The best-performing parameter is exports, which went up (in value) by 6.7% compared to 2014, reaching 28,966 million Euro.
Exports account for 21.9% of total production, with confectionery operators holding the highest share of products destined for foreign markets (12.5%). While quantitatively consumption has remained stable relative to 2014 (+0.2%), a qualitative change in the makeup of this figure has occurred. Namely, there has been a shift from fresh to packaged goods and from traditional to more modern products that offer greater quality and service for specific needs.
The process underway is determined by various economic, social and cultural factors: attention to saving and reducing waste is growing, while new consumption choices having to do with healthy living and sustainability in manufacturing processes are taking hold.
Compared to the previous year, production in 2015 in the food sector dropped by approximately 1%, to around 7,175 million kg. This drop is undoubtedly related to the downward trend of olive oil, whose exports have dropped sharply.
On the other hand, according to calculations by Istituto Italiano Imballaggio, there has been growth in production of beverages (+7%), which has reached 23,097 million liters, with domestic demand showing over 7% growth thanks to a hot summer thadrove up consumption.
Beverage exports are also growing (about +17%).
Packaging by the numbers
Packaging represents a strategic variable for the food sector as a whole. In addition to protecting the product and enabling it to be handled for transport, packaging also represents an important marketing tool. A summary of 2015 data on the different types will follow.
Food area
In this sector, a highly diversified product offer translates into a corresponding variety in packaging solutions.
Handling of products in the food sector areas monitored by Istituto Italiano Imballaggio involved the use of approximately 5,026 t/000 of packaging (+2.2% compared to 2014); the trend is largely in line with production in the sector generally, which showed approximately 2.6% growth, in quantitative terms. Both disposable packaging and those with a deposit, as well as primary, secondary and transport packaging are included in the calculations.
Steel packaging has grown by 6.8%, undoubtedly thanks to the strong performance of products mostly packaged in this material (tuna, tomato products, chemicals, etc.).
The preserved foods sector is the largest user of steel packaging, followed by chemical products.
Aluminium packaging ranges from cans and tubs to wrapping foil. This type closed 2015 with 3.8% growth compared to 2014, largely driven by tubs and wrapping foil.
Cellulose packaging also includes rigid laminated cellulose containers (cellulose/aluminium and plastic). This type showed overall growth of 2.1%, uniform across types (+2.2% for corrugated cardboard, +2% for rigid polylaminate containers).
Glass packaging is the traditional packaging par excellence and continues to enjoy widespread use in food packaging; glass packaging mostly consists of jars, which in 2015 grew by 2.8%.
Plastic packaging (including flexible polylaminates for converting). Due to its special characteristics, this diverse category continues to play an important role in the food sector, and grew 2.9%.
Wood packaging (pallets and fresh fruit and vegetable crates). These two types showed some 2.5% growth. Worth noting is the rising use of reusable pallets, restored pallets and those put back in circulation.
Beverage sector
Among the different packaging types used for beverages, plastic bottles represent 59.4% of the market, with growth since 2014 (table 5).
Glass bottles, which until 20-25 years ago were clearly the most widely used, are currently second with a 29.5% market share, but it remains the preferred solution for wine, spirits,vermouth, beer and syrups.
The presence on the market of cellulose rigid polylaminate containers is estimated at 3.3%. This type is used for every kind of beverage, offering a valid alternative to plastic, glass, and in recent years, flexible polylaminates (cheerpack).
Next in line, cans, primarily made from aluminium, but also steel, have remained stable with a 2.5% share.
Finally, the remaining 5.2% refers to cheerpaks, plastic cups and draft distribution.
Plinio Iascone
Istituto Italiano Imballaggio
