The Culatello di Zibello PDO, a coveted delicacy hailing from the Parma region, is staging a comeback reminiscent of its pre-Covid heyday in production, sales, and exports. “This resurgence owes much to the strategic push in retail through pre-sliced product trays,” highlights Romeo Gualerzi, President of the Protection Consortium.
In 2023, close to half of the culatellos produced were earmarked for pre-slicing, constituting a substantial 46% of the total annual production (37,424 pieces out of 81,324). This translates to over a million trays hitting the market, commanding a consumer value of 10 million euros—a remarkable leap from the meager 8.7% slice share, valued at 1.6 million euros, back in 2017.
The export sector accounted for a quarter of the Culatello di Zibello PDO’s turnover in 2023, with robust demand propelling shipments to France and Germany, closely shadowed by Switzerland. Noteworthy upticks were also seen in the USA, Canada, Japan, and the UK.
Gualerzi remarks, “The burgeoning pre-sliced niche is witnessing a steady ascent: it streamlines procurement processes, safeguards the product’s sensory attributes, and curtails wastage. Outlooks for 2024 remain buoyant, notwithstanding anticipations of further escalations in raw material costs.”