Salame Felino PGI recorded a solid performance in 2024, with consumer turnover reaching €89 million, according to data released by the Consortium for the Protection of Salame Felino PGI. The figure marks a 16% increase over the past five years, driven largely by a sharp rise in exports and sustained demand for pre-sliced products. Exports doubled year-on-year, accounting for 5% of total sales in 2024—up from 2.5% in 2023.
SALAME FELINO PRODUCTION HOLDS STEADY AS PRE-SLICED SEGMENT EXPANDS
Total production remained stable at 5.3 million kilograms of processed meat, with 3.5 million kilograms allocated to certified Salame Felino PGI. Production value stood at €46 million.
The pre-sliced segment continued outperforming, with volumes rising from 526,000 kilograms in 2019 to 573,000 kilograms in 2024. This reflects shifting consumer preferences and growing demand for convenience formats.
GERMANY AND FRANCE LEAD EU EXPORT MARKETS
Export growth was concentrated within the European Union, where Germany and France remain the primary markets. Switzerland also posted gains, though exports overall remain largely confined to the European market.
SPECIFICATIONS UPDATED AS COST PRESSURES MOUNT
Umberto Boschi, president of the Consortium, welcomed the positive performance of exports and pre-sliced products but flagged concerns about rising raw material costs—a trend that emerged in 2023 and is expected to persist through 2025 amid forecasts of a seasonal drop in pig availability.
In early 2025, the Consortium revised its production specifications. Notably, it removed the average live weight requirement of 160kg (±10%) in favour of a new carcass weight range of 110.1 to 190kg, measured at slaughter.