The biscuit market - Italy

Cookies are dry sweets usually made of flour, eggs, and sugar. Cookies can be sweet or savory, however, this study focuses on the sweet cookie market, while savory cookies are the subject of another market study. It differs from the market for cakes, pies, and baked goods, but like the latter it offers real product diversity. Sweet cookies are usually eaten for breakfast or as a snack. The global cookie and cracker market is undergoing considerable expansion, projecting growth from $116.19 billion in 2023 to $162.40 billion in 2030, with a CAGR of 4.9 percent. The Italian food sector is following this upward trend, projecting a 4 percent annual increase for 2022 and 2023, despite the impact of European inflation. In Italy, cookie consumption peaks at breakfast, chosen by about 70 percent of consumers. Among the market leaders, Barilla stands out for its wide offer, with brands such as Mulino Bianco, Pan di Stelle, and Pavesi. At the same time, supermarket private labels are gaining ground, offering inexpensive alternatives to name-brand products, a crucial aspect in market analysis. This structure continues to be favored by a long tradition of large Italian manufacturers surviving on strong brand power. For the past few years, however, the market has been undergoing continuous transformations that threaten the position of its major players, such as the development of organic, dietary, and gluten-free product lines and the growth of small producers.