Italian FMCG sales increased by 1.4% in value in 2019 compared to 2018, according to the latest Nielsen Total Store survey estimates.
Nielsen analysed the performance of food, including beverages and pet care, home and personal care, and non-food departments.
The food and beverage and pet segments closed the year with 1.8% growth, while sales in the home care, personal care, and non-food departments were down by 0.3%.
Large-Scale Distribution
One of the main trends in 2019 was the growth of large-scale distribution in Southern Italy, the survey revealed.
This was mainly driven by the transformation of distribution formats, a decline in demand for traditional retail, and the introduction of ‘citizens income’, a measure designed to alleviate poverty and address unemployment.
The study also revealed that in southern Italy, the retail space occupied by hypermarkets and independent retailers declined by 32,000 square metres in 2019, while discount stores reported a 38,000 square metres increase in selling space.
The discount channel reported a positive performance in departments dedicated to fresh produce.
Presently, fresh products represent 88% of the growth in the channel, including delicatessen, cheese, fruit and vegetables, and meat.
Outlook
Nielsen Italy has forecast moderate but continuous growth for FMCG in 2020 based on the performance of the market in 2019.
It also pointed out that the assortment offered by retailers will play an important role, as it needs to be combined with an increasingly efficient supply chain.
© 2020 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.
