The trend in consumption of fruit and vegetables is back to negative, after a brief turnaround recorded during the period of greatest health emergency.
From January to December 2021 5.9 million tons were purchased, 3% less than the previous year, with a decrease in value of 2%, going from 12 billion to 11.8 billion euros also due to a slight 1% increase in the average price.
This was revealed by an analysis by the Cso Italy Market Observatory, stating that the volumes of fruit purchased stopped at 3 million tons (-4%), for a shortage of almost 112 thousand tons.
A 3% decrease also for vegetables, with 2.8 million tons and a variation compared to 2020 of 80 thousand tons.
As for the average price, if for fruit it remained in line with that of 2020, above the average of the previous three years, for vegetables, on the other hand, there was a growth of 3%.
According to the Observatory, each family bought 229 kg of products, almost 7 kg less.
Therefore, spending also decreased by 2% from 466 euros per family to 458 euros in 2021.
News also with respect to distribution channels, where supermarkets mark + 5%, with large-scale distribution rising from 69% to 72%, centralizing over 4.2 million tons (+ 1%).
A minus sign, on the other hand, for hypermarkets (-2%), discount stores (-1%) and small surfaces (-33%), but also for traditional channels (-15%), street markets (-14%) and greengrocers (-15%).
As for the identikit of the consumer, 33% of the purchasing managers are 65 or older, a band where 42% of the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables is concentrated;
families with a purchasing manager aged between 55 and 64 and between 45 and 54 follow with 20%.
Finally, 13% of the volumes of fresh fruit and vegetables are purchased by those between the ages of 35 and 44, while the remaining 5% by those under 34.