The catering market - Italy

The global foodservice market, valued at $104.3 billion in 2022, is expected to reach $159.3 billion by 2032, demonstrating significant growth potential. Restaurant and foodservice companies are increasingly collaborating and innovating, forming alliances with educational institutions and embracing technology by developing mobile apps tailored to individual dining preferences. For example, Sodexo's partnership with HelloFresh in March 2021 illustrates this trend, aiming to provide personalized meal kits to students at more than 300 US colleges and universities.

In addition, the market includes major players such as Compass Group plc, Sodexo, Aramark Corporation and Elior Group. Geographically, Western Europe dominated the market in 2021, followed by North America. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the market began to recover in 2021, and the trend suggests a robust rebound in 2022 and beyond.

Evolving trends and demand dynamics in the Italian foodservice market

The Italian foodservice market, with its rich history dating back to the early 1900s, has undergone significant transformations over the years. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the market was on an expansion trajectory, with increasingly organized and digitized solutions for public facilities and high-quality services for private events, with an average spend of around 60 euros per person. The pandemic caused a noticeable contraction, although signs of recovery appeared as early as 2021, and a return to pre-Pandemic COVID-19 performance is expected by the end of 2022. The market is structured into different sectors, the two main categories being "canteens and continuous catering on a contract basis" and "supply of prepared meals for events".

The former, which meets structural needs such as those of schools and hospitals, has remained relatively stable, with only a slight increase. By contrast, the second category, which caters mainly for events, saw significant growth of over 80% over the same period. Notably, the Italian domestic market saw a growing number of companies in event catering, with an increase of 3%. In addition, employment in this sector rose by 34%, indicating a robust and evolving industrial landscape. Regionally, Lombardy, Lazio, Veneto, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont and Tuscany have the highest concentration of local units in the catering sector.

Demand in this market is particularly influenced by sectors such as events and trade fairs, wedding planning and residential care facilities. The latter in particular has seen impressive growth, with increases ranging from 39% to 136% in different categories of care facilities. In terms of geography, Sicily and Lazio top the list for the number of residential social care facilities. Growing interest in sustainable food options has become a major feature of market demand. Food waste in the catering sector has reached around 7.5 billion euros, a problem that has led to increased consumer awareness and a preference for sustainable practices. Similarly, a significant proportion of Italians consider a restaurant to be sustainable if it reduces food waste, uses materials from sustainable farms and recovers local raw materials.

In terms of offerings, catering services are diversifying to meet new consumer expectations, with an emphasis on fresh, organic and seasonal produce.

As a dynamic and vital segment of the global foodservice market, the foodservice sector is dominated by a number of leading companies that have made a name for themselves through quality, innovation and strategic partnerships.

Below, we take a look at some of the leading companies making significant inroads in the foodservice sector.

• Compass Group plc: Based in the UK, Compass Group plc is a leading multinational provider of catering and support services. With operations in 45 countries, it has built its reputation on delivering superior foodservice solutions to a wide range of sectors, including corporate, healthcare, education and sports venues.
• Sodexo: A French conglomerate, Sodexo is widely recognized for its integrated facilities management services, of which foodservice is a key component. Serving clients in a wide range of industries, Sodexo is committed to improving the quality of life of all those it serves, with a focus on sustainability and personalized food experiences.
• Aramark Corporation: U.S.-based Aramark Corporation is renowned for its food, facilities and uniform services. It caters to a wide range of institutions such as schools, hospitals and stadiums, offering innovative culinary experiences and building partnerships that enhance customer engagement.
• Groupe Elior Elior Group, another French player in the sector, offers contract catering and concession services. Specializing in personalized service, Elior operates in a variety of sectors, including education, healthcare and transportation, ensuring that every dining experience is unique and satisfying.
• Autogrill SpA: Italy's Autogrill SpA is a leading provider of catering services for travelers. Operating mainly in airports, freeways and railway stations, Autogrill focuses on providing quality catering options for people on the move, contributing to a more enjoyable travel experience.
• SSP Group plc: Specializing in the travel sector, UK-based SSP Group plc operates food and beverage outlets in airports and railway stations around the world. It collaborates with well-known brands and develops its own concepts to meet the varied tastes of travelers.
• Lufthansa Group: As well as being one of the world's largest airline groups, the Lufthansa Group extends its services to catering through LSG Sky Chefs. This subsidiary specializes in in-flight catering and hospitality services, guaranteeing passengers high-quality meals, even above the clouds.
• DO & CO AG: DO & CO, based in Austria, has established itself as a luxury catering company with an emphasis on gastronomy.

Inforamtion

• Number of pages : 30 pages
• Format : Digital and PDF versions
• Last update : 08/07/2022

Summary and extracts

List of charts

• Catering industry turnover
• Number of enterprises in the catering industry
• Those employed in the catering industry
• Market shares of enterprises in the "Continued Catering on a contract basis" sector
• Market shares of enterprises in the "Canteens" sector
• Market shares of enterprises in the "Event catering, banqueting" sector
• Numero totale dei matrimoni
• Turnover of the sector "Organization of conventions and fairs"
• [Copy] -
• Part des mariages religieux et civils
• Facteurs utilisés pour définir un restaurant comme durable
• Share of waste by department by weight
• Consumer strategies to reduce waste
• Public measures to combat waste
• Value of waste throughout the supply chain
• Breakdown of the cost of a mass catering meal
• Price index for restaurant and catering industry
• Research interest "Catering"
• Research interest "Canteen"
• World catering market