Italian cuisine continues to dominate the global culinary landscape, reaching a staggering €253 billion in value in 2025. According to the latest Deloitte Foodservice Market Monitor 2026, this represents 19% of the total global full-service restaurant market, confirming Italy’s gastronomic heritage as the most sought-after category internationally. The domestic foodservice market itself stands at €84 billion, solidifying its position among the world’s top players.
The rise of chainization in Italy
The Italian cuisine foodservice sector is undergoing a structural transformation. While traditionally fragmented and dominated by independent operators, the industry is witnessing a significant trend toward chainization. Data shows a 7.2% growth rate for restaurant chains, compared to a modest 0.6% for independent establishments. In particular, quick service restaurants (qsr) are expanding at a rate of 10.5%, nearly double the global average.
Tommaso Nastasi, Strategy and Value Creation Leader at Deloitte, notes that the speed of expansion in the Italian QSR segment highlights a strategic shift. While the penetration of chains in Italy remains at 11%—significantly lower than the 35% global average—this gap presents substantial opportunities for investors and businesses aiming for scalable models.
Global market dynamics and M&A growth
The global foodservice market has reached a valuation of €2,981 billion, a 2.2% increase that signals a return to pre-pandemic growth trajectories. Europe is currently leading this expansion with a 6% growth rate. Furthermore, the Italian landscape has become increasingly attractive to investors, with 34 M&A deals recorded between 2022 and 2025. Italian culinary concepts account for 39% of these transactions, with pizzerias alone representing 21% of total deal volume.
Future outlook: scaling for success
The market is gravitating toward efficiency, with off-premise channels—including delivery and takeaway—now representing 45% of total global foodservice revenue. As the industry evolves, the ability to merge traditional quality with modern, scalable formats will be the defining factor for future growth. While full-service restaurants still account for 50% of the domestic market’s value, the rise of quick-service formats is expected to remain the primary driver of expansion through 2030.
