Our role for the real economy

The particular complexity of 2022 had an inevitable impact on the economic situation in Italy and internationally. Despite the post-Covid-19 recovery, the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine represented an extremely important factor of instability for the markets, which were forced to reckon with higher production costs, lower real household incomes and particularly tight monetary policies.

A year that could be dubbed the “ready-to-eat” food year for an Italy emerging from the grips of the pandemic and limbering up for the new normal.

The year 2021 will be remembered as the time we had to dust off our pots and pans and timidly started to go out again, while 2022 offers considerable food for thought as consumption goes. Some habits and conveniences took root among Italian families, as did the need to pay attention to health and well-being, without neglecting gratification.

Italian large retail reported an increase in sales of +6.7% in 2022, albeit with an EBIT margin down to 1.4% from 2.4% in the previous year.

These are the figures presented in the latest edition of the Observatory on Italian and international food-focussed large retail by Mediobanca’s Research Department.

The annual figure for 2022 was well into positive territory: +4.11% on the previous 12 months according to NielsenIQ.

In such a complex economic and social context, Conad continues to grow, ending the year with turnover of 18.49 billion euros: an increase of 8.7% on 2021 and of 60% compared to the last ten years.

The figures confirm the lead in large retail, with market share of approximately 15%.