witness a surge in market share, challenging the traditional dominance of supermarkets and hypermarkets. In the face of inflation and financial constraints, customers are gravitating towards discounters to cut down on grocery expenses. However, supermarkets and hypermarkets continue to lead the country's food retail industry,
, albeit at a slower pace compared to their more affordable format counterparts.
Market leaders
In 2022,
supermarkets in Italy achieved sales totaling close to 56 billion euros, more than twice the sales of discount stores in the country.
Their number also experienced a modest but steady growth in recent years, reaching nearly 11,000 in 2021. Among grocery retailers, the
country's leadership position was held by Conad, acronym of Consorzio Nazionale Dettaglianti, a company formed by five cooperatives that collectively unite 2,348 retailers. Selex, another retailer operating through three banners active in supermarkets, hypermarkets, and cash and carry channels, followed closely. Its
revenue in 2022 was comparable to that of Conad, and by 2023, it had reached 18.5 billion euros. Other significant players in the industry included Coop, another cooperative, Esselunga, a chain based in northern Italy, and Gruppo VéGé, a conglomerate that operates multiple banners instead of using its own brand name.
Consumer behavior
Food inflation has had a significant impact on consumer shopping behavior, leading some to explore alternative options such as discount stores. However, when it came to
choosing their preferred grocer, Italian consumers prioritized convenience over affordability. As a result, supermarkets continue to be the top choice for Italians, with 81 percent selecting them as their
primary grocery shopping destination. Hypermarkets came in as the second choice, favored by 47 percent of consumers. The preferences for store brands aligned closely with the market share of retailers. Notably, Conad emerged as the
preferred choice for half of Italian consumers when it came to shopping for groceries. Spazio Conad, the hypermarket chain of the company, was also recognized as the most
affordable store for own-brand products in 2023. On the other hand, when it comes to
name-brand products, Esselunga’s and Famila’s hypermarket chains, were considered the most affordable options.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no
liability for the information given being complete or correct.
Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
data than referenced in the text.
