Christmas on the table, the bloodletting is served

Christmas arrives on the table. To celebrate the holidays at the table, at home or in a restaurant, an average of 126 euros will be spent per family, for a total of around 3.5 billion euros. This is what emerges from the usual food consumption survey of Christmas Fiesa Confesercenti-Ipsos. This year too, the tradition of ‘Christmas with your family’ is confirmed: 59% of families will invite guests for the 24th and 58% for the 25th, and more than eight out of ten Italians will spend the holidays at their own or relatives’ homes , 83% for Christmas Eve and 81% for Christmas lunch. There is also, however, 8% who will celebrate at a friend’s house, on both occasions.

However, there will be over 4.5 million visitors to the restaurant: 1.9 million for the evening of Christmas Eve, plus around another 2.6 million for lunch on 25 December, for a total expenditure of around 500 million euros. For Christmas Day, there is a slight reduction in the share of those celebrating in a restaurant or other public establishment, this year at 7% compared to 9% last year.

However, those who celebrate in a location rented for the occasion remain stable at 2%.Christmas shopping is now increasingly concentrated in the last few days: sales of products related to the holidays started again on Saturday and between yesterday and today there will be the maximum turnout. A breath of fresh air for businesses after a negative November and early December”. Thus Daniele Erasmi, president of Fiesa Confesercenti, the trade federation representing Confesercenti food distribution businesses.

“Italians do not give up good food to celebrate Christmas, but the difficulties are felt. It will be spent above all on Christmas Eve dinner, choosing fish menu; However, the focus is on farmed fish, with a lowering of the average receipt despite inflation. As far as desserts are concerned, we are now witnessing the affirmation of local products – more or less in every territory – and in any case of classic desserts of the national tradition, preferably artisanal. However, there is less and less search for the ‘industrial’ product.

Overall, however, we perceive the uncertainty of families, which slows down consumption and cuts sales. Confirming the difficulties of families is the fact that purchases are increasingly driven by promotions and discounts: people mainly buy what is on offer. A characteristic that was previously only found in large-scale distribution, but which has now spread to all sales channels.”