According to ANICAV (Italy’s National Industrial Association of Vegetable Food Preserves) data, the export sales of Italy’s vegetable preserves and legumes are decreasing in volume. About 334 thousand tons have been exported in the first half of 2021 compared to over 363t in 2020, with a -8.07% drop. The data, however, are positive in value, with a growth trend of +4.58% for a turnover of 411 million euros.
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DRIVERS FOR GROWTH
Italian companies say in unison that the quality of the product, for consumers, is more important than the price, especially in foreign markets. Buyers are looking for organic, free-from products that combine taste and well-being. As always, much of the attention is devoted to sustainability, especially when it comes to packaging whose recyclability is a priority. From this point of view, paper packages are more appreciated abroad than tin cans. Last but not least, there is the search for premium: “100% Italian” is a particularly appreciated plus.
And it is precisely on these drivers that we must focus on the future growth of the sector, according to what emerges from a Nomisma analysis that identifies five focal points:
- Agricultural sustainability;
- Mild technologies, that is the use of less invasive preservation technologies, able to preserve the characteristics and nutritional quality of raw materials;
- Nutritional pluses, given the increased demand for vegetables containing specific vitamins and antioxidants in significant quantities;
- Sustainability, due to the need to reduce the global environmental impact, which will promote the food transition of Western countries towards diets richer in vegetables;
- The spreading of the vegetarian/vegan philosophy, which will also promote the consumption of canned fruits and vegetables.