Boom in food-to-go amongst Italians

According to the latest Nielsen surveys, from September 2018 to September 2019 Italians spent €1.4 billion on ready meals (8.7% more than the previous year).

Ready-to-eat spending made up 2% of the shopping cart, a percentage that rose to 3% in the metropolitan areas of north-west Italy where the pace of life is more frenetic.

Figures published by the Chamber of Commerce of Milan, Monza, Brianza and Lodi have shown that the ready-meal business is worth €5.5 billion.

The fastest-growing products consist of healthier meals that do not need to be warmed up: snacks continue to top the rankings, followed by dried fruit, soups and exotic foods, and sushi in fourth place.