The economic figures of the different segments show encouraging signs despite the economic situation. Leadership in many sectors guarantees the staying power of Italian companies
 
 
Milan, 21 October 2011– Host 2011 arrives, running from today until Tuesday 25 October at fieramilano, and this year the most eagerly awaited date for the hospitality world also becomes an opportunity to review the state of the art of the various segments in the hospitality world.
 
Italy leading the way in food technologies
With EUR 4.5 billion in total turnover, 60% deriving from exports, reaching 90% in some niches, Italy is the global leader in food technologies which, as a group, according to Anima-Assofoodtec figures, saw 2010 growth in production of +5.8%, and a +7.6% rise in exports.
In particular, machines and ovens for bread, pasta and pizza saw a +4.2% increase in 2010 and shall remain stable in 2011. By contrast, exports increased by 8.3% last year. Refrigeration equipment showed more contained growth, with production up +2.5% in 2010 and a +3.9% rise forecast for 2011, whilst exports went up by +5.2% last year.  A significant recovery was recorded in the cutting and mincing machine sector, up +13.4% in terms of production in 2010 and +19.5% as regards exports. Further increases of +5.1% (production) and +7.1% (exports) are expected this year.
This leadership also extends to professional appliances for catering and hospitality. According to CECED (European Committee of Domestic Appliance Manufacturers) research, 2010 saw a recovery in value of sector-based manufacturing (+14%), following the economic performance of the 2008-2009 two-year period. In particular, the dynamic preparation segment rose by +15%, while ovens recorded an +11.8% increase.Refrigeration also recorded a big increase, up +18%.
 
The away from home world
According to the FIPE (Italian Federation of Public Concerns)Economic Observatory, in the third quarter of the year, the level of turnover settled, after recording slight improvement in the second quarter. 43.6% of concerns recorded a stable number of places, and 19.3% growth, and employment levels appeared to have been kept stable in 69.5% of concerns. In summer, public concern prices remained below inflation.
 
And the key element of public concerns, coffee? According to figures from the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), at global production level, the 2010/11 agricultural year was positive, with a volume of 113 million sacks from exporting countries, up by +8.1% compared to the previous year. Global consumption in 2010, according to ICO, came to 134 million sacks, in contrast to 130.9 million in 2009, up +2.4%, testimony to the increase in consumption after the uncertainties of 2009.
 
“Counter side”, as the price of a cup remained stable according to FIPE (+0.10% in July despite the increase in management costs), this is the reason for the quasi-boom in coffee machines in 2010, according to Anima-Assofoodtec figures: machines produced was up +16.1% in 2009, for a total of roughly 112 thousand items, with the lion’s share exports: three out of four machines bound for foreign destinations, with a further increase of +12% in 2010, particularly towards the Far East, rest of Asia and North America. For the year in progress, Anima-Assofoodtec forecasts another +5% increase both in production and exports.
According to CECED, the Bar-Caffè (Bar-Coffee shop) equipment segment, as a whole, recorded a turnover growth of +30% in 2010.
 
Ice cream parlour and confectioner’s, other Italian leaders
In the like-minded trades of the ice cream parlour and the confectioner’s, Italy confirms its leading position as regards hand-made ice cream makers, operating in a market worth EUR 356 million according to FIPE statistics.
Of the 62 thousand ice cream parlours registered worldwide, as many as 32 thousand are in Italy (GAT - Gelatieri Italiani Triveneto figures) and employ more than 93 thousand staff. The record number of hand-made ice cream parlours is in the North. Lombardy leads the way with 6,093 shops, followed by Veneto (3,512 companies), Emilia Romagna (3,273 businesses) and Lazio (3,136). Italy is also at the top of the class in terms of companies providing semi-finished products and equipment for ice cream parlours, despite it lying only in third position in terms of per capita ice cream consumption, with 12 kg per head per year, behind USA and Germany.pe cream copnsird postion ifinisghed ly towards the Far East, rest of Asia and Norther ving the_
The ice cream parlour equipment segment also recorded positive signs. While Anima-Assofoodtec recorded stable levels of production in 2010, CECED registered growth in total turnover of roughly 6%, while this year Anima-Assofoodtec still expects slight growth in production (+1.9%) and a more marked increase in exports (+2.5%).
 
 
To sum up, following the crisis in 2008-2009, despite the difficult economic situation that persists for the global economy, various encouraging signs have been glimpsed in the hospitality sector, which drive operators to invest in innovation to face the new market challenges.
 
 
 
  
EVENT PRESS OFFICE:
Rosy Mazzanti - Fiera Milano S.p.A.
tel. 02 4997.7456 e-mail rosy.mazzanti@fieramilano.it
Elisa Vittozzi - Fiera Milano S.p.A.
tel. 02 4997.7456 e-mail elisa.vittozzi@fieramilano.it