Sales of pre-sliced Culatello di Zibello PDO exceeded 50% of total annual production for the first time in 2024, marking a significant shift in the market for Italy’s most prized cured meat. According to the Consortium overseeing its production, consumer revenue for the year reached €18.5 million.
The milestone reflects a growing preference for convenience, with pre-sliced packs reaching a record share since the Consortium’s founding 15 years ago. The organization, representing all 21 producers, reported total production revenues of €11.5 million. Of the 73,550 culatelli produced last year, 38,004 were destined for pre-sliced packaging, accounting for 51.6% of output. The segment generated €10.2 million in consumer sales, up from €7.3 million in 2019, with 1.07 million packs entering the market.
This expansion came despite supply chain challenges. A shortage of certified raw materials led to a 9.5% decline in marked culatelli, down to 294,000 kilograms from 325,000 kilograms in 2023—a contraction driven largely by rising costs. “In 2020, the average price of a bone-in pork leg was €3.73 per kilo; by 2024, it had soared to €6.08,” said Romeo Gualerzi, president of the Consortium. “These are extraordinary price levels, which inevitably weigh on consumption as purchasing power weakens.”
Despite the pressures, Gualerzi remains optimistic. “We are still well above the historical average of 60,000 marked culatelli. The spike in 2022 was an anomaly, as we were replenishing stock post-Covid. Our target is now 80,000 culatelli annually, but stabilizing the market is the real priority,” he said. The Consortium is also stepping up promotional efforts in key international markets, including Canada, China, Japan, and the US, where pork consumption remains high.
Exports of Culatello di Zibello PDO accounted for 25% of total sales in 2024, with EU countries—led by France and Germany—alongside Switzerland representing 88% of overseas demand. North America, particularly Canada and the US, now accounts for 6% of exports, while shipments to Asian markets stand at 4%.