Research by the Italian Association of Cattle and Meat Producers and Traders (Assocarni) has revealed that 70 per cent of Italian shoppers now buy their meat in supermarkets and hypermarkets, while only 30 per cent go to independent butchers and specialist stores.
It also found that Italians consume an average of 140g of red meat per week, or roughly 19kg per year.
Red meat consumption in Italy has been plummeting in recent years as a result of changing eating habits.
Italians are consuming more fruit, vegetables and fish at the expense of red meat (especially pork) and salamis, while poultry sales are stable.
Data from Italian research institute Ismea shows that retail sales of beef in the first nine months of 2015 dropped by about 6 per cent in value, while pork sales were down 7.7 per cent.
In such a competitive market and with comparatively meat consumption, Assocarni says that butchers must now position themselves in a luxury niche market, such as supplying restaurants, in order to survive.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
