In spite of recent summers in Italy getting progressively hotter, sales of soft drinks in the country have fallen by 25% since 2009, a study has found.
As a result, Italy now ranks second to last in Europe in terms of soft drink consumption per head, according to a study commissioned by Assobibe, the Italian association of companies that produce and sell non-alcoholic drinks.
The sector employs 80,000 people across Italy.
Value To Economy
The production and sale of soft drinks generates a total direct and indirect value of €4.9 billion to the economy, equal to 0.29% of Italy’s GDP and contributes around €2.3 billion in tax to state coffers.
Of the €4.9 billion in added value, €800 million is generated by production companies, €1.1 billion by raw material suppliers and €3 billion from the marketing phases of finished products.
The Italian soft drink sector consists of 80 companies with 100 production facilities that produce and market soft drinks, non-alcoholic aperitifs, energy and sports drinks and ready-made teas.
In Italy, consumers pay a VAT rate on soft drinks that is among the highest in Europe (22% compared to an average of 10%), unlike other foods that have rates of 4% or 10%.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
