Beyond food – how the food sector in Italy offers multiple opportunities

The food sector continues to play a key role for the Italian economy as a whole. The domestic food industry is demonstrating remarkable resilience and a strong ability to respond to geopolitical turbulence. According to the Italian food industry association, Federalimentare, the sector reached 2025 a turnover of €204 billion, up 3.6% on the previous year, supported by a good trend in industrial production (+1.6%) and dynamic exports (+4.2%). The year 2026 shows encouraging signals as well, even if the international scenario—with inflation and cost pressures—continues to contribute to a climate of uncertainty. Investments are mainly focused on innovative machinery, equipment, agricultural construction and renewable energy facilities, with the latter attracting the most interest.

Trends in the Italian food market

The Italian food market has been diversifying for several years, with a strong interest in products that were previously unavailable. There is a growing interest in cultured meats, plant-based foods and cultural contamination. More and more products are available that incorporate spices, leaves and elements that not only enrich flavours, but also introduce new taste profiles and nutritional benefits, providing a richer and more diverse eating experience.

In the breakfast segment consumption has been going through a year of adjustment rather than a collapse, with companies responding by leaning into the main consumption trends—from fibre-rich and protein propositions to “no sugar” options—while promising the same level of taste satisfaction. This shift matters for Swiss suppliers because “healthy but with taste” is increasingly a core expectation, and Switzerland remains a natural reference point in categories such as muesli.

The food delivery business has boomed in Italy in recent years, highlighting another important trend: the rising demand for ready-to-eat meals. Modern households prefer quick and nutritious meals, but are not willing to compromise on health and sustainability, which remain key drivers for Italian consumers, along with price.

Market potential in food packaging

There is great potential for packaging in the Italian food sector, as it is one of the aspects that most influences consumers’ perception of sustainability, while at the same time responding to the growing demand for ready-to-eat meals. Innovation offers great opportunities in terms of sustainable packaging: recyclable, no overpackaging, made with raw materials from renewable sources or with reduced CO2 emissions.

Parallelly, the packaging regulation is becoming stricter. The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/40) applies from 12 August 2026 and introduces tighter, more harmonized requirements across the single market. From 2030, certain packaging formats listed are restricted, including single-use packaging used to group products at point of sale and some formats for fresh fruit and vegetables under 1.5 kg (with exemptions and clarifications evolving). For food packaging suppliers, this increases the value of solutions that are demonstrably compliant, scalable, and compatible with Italian retail operations.

The growing interest in sustainable packaging, ready-to-eat meals, and healthy and organic food represents a great opportunity for Swiss companies in this sector. Among other things, “Made in Switzerland” enjoys an excellent reputation in the market.

Promotion opportunities for Swiss suppliers

Switzerland Global Enterprise, with its local Swiss Business Hub, supports Swiss companies interested in exploring this interesting market:

• TUTTOFOOD, 8–11 May 2028, Milan
• VINITALY, 11–14 April 2027, Verona
• MARCA, 13–14 January 2027, Bologna
• FIERA AGRICOLA, 2–5 February 2028
• MACFRUT, 20–22 April 2027
• SIGEP WORLD, 23–27 January 2027
• Cibus Tec, 27-30 October 2026
• Cibus, 4-6 May 2027
• Verona Agrifood Innovation Hub