Coop Italia has published its 2017 report, Rapporto Coop, which provides a snapshot of the latest Italian food consumption trends.
According to the report, health is a main concern for Italians, with 46% of consumers believing that superfoods are a way to treat and prevent illness.
Products considered to be beneficial for health, such as whole grain, gluten-free and lactose-free items, have all seen growth in Coop's stores, as have palm-oil free products. As for meat, Italians now eat the same amount of red and white meats, for a total of 19 kilograms per year.
Additionally, 70% of consumers in Italy say that they are willing to pay more for more quality. As a result, spending on high-quality goods, such as fish fillets, coffee capsules and Italian wines, has grown by 8% in the first half of 2017.
Changing Trends
The list of popular food trends has also seen changes, with maca powder, chia seeds, acai and goji berries all increasing in demand, while sales of black garlic (-37%), kamut (-24%), and soy (-3%) have dropped.
Some products are being replaced by healthier or more ethical alternatives. For example, sales of eggs of caged hens have decreased (-8.2%), while free range eggs have seen an increase (+15%).
For its part, Coop Italia has seen grocery sales increasing in the first half of the year by 1.2% in value and 2.1% in volume.
Besides boosting its offer of free-from, vegan, and ethical-sustainable products, the retailer continues to develop its private label ranges. In addition to introducing 200 new products in 2016, Coop has added another 200 in 2017 and is launching new product lines, including Amici Speciali, Origine, Casa, Io and D’Osa.
At the same time, it is boosting its sales network with 10 new store openings and 90 major renovations, following a €300 million investment. It is also developing its petrol station business, as well as new initiatives such as the Amici di Casa pet store concept, and e-commerce and click & collect services.
© 2017 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.
