The market for dietary foods - Italy (2024)

1.2 The global market

By ****, the global market for diet foods is estimated at $***.* billion. The gradual increase in consumer attention to their united lifestyles and the steady rise in the incidence of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and celiac disease, lead to predictions of a compound annual growth rate (***) of *.*% for the period ****-****. By the end of the period, the global market could reach a total value of $***.* billion.

Market for health and diet foods World, ****-****, in billions of dollars Researchandmarkets

According to the taxonomy adopted by the Total Diet & Meal Replacements Europe association, TDRs products include low-calorie diets (***). MRPs, on the other hand, are single meal replacements to be used along with conventional food as part of a low-calorie diet. They can then be eaten in place of breakfast, lunch, or dinner, contain between *** kcal and *** kcal, and are available in pre-rationed form.

In ****, ** percent of the diet food market is referable to products for the replacement of the entire daily food ration (***). Market for diet foods, breakdown by product type World, ****, % Mediobanca

1.3 The Italian market

Considering the enterprises under Ateco Code **.**, related to "Production of homogenized preparations and dietetic foods," between **** and ****, the total turnover of the industry appears to be growing. During the period analyzed, the total turnover of companies increased from *.** billion euros to *.** billion euros, marking a growth of **.* percent. The trend is positive during the entire period, with the sole exception of **** (***).

Total enterprise turnover under Ateco Code **.** "Production of homogenized preparations and dietetic foods" Italy, ****-****, in billion euros Istat

Considering the two main macrocategories of products, specialized nutrition foods and early childhood foods, in **** it is the first of these that will drive the Italian market. In fact, as shown in the chart below, specialized nutrition food production contributes **.* percent of the total while baby food stands at **.* percent. Considering the accentuated denatality that characterizes the Italian demographic landscape and the increase in some diseases that require specialized nutrition (***) suggest a gradual decrease in the incidence of the production of foods for early childhood and a marked increase in that of the production of other foods for specialized nutrition. Production of dietary foods, breakdown by product type Italy, ****, % Unioneitalianafood Now analyzing the segment related to other specialized food products (***). Specialized ...

1.4 The consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict

the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in February **** resulted in, among other things, a general increase in the consumer price index. The food and beverage sector appears to be one of the most affected by the consequences of the conflict. Considering the consumer price index for food products, and assuming a similar trend for dietary foods, it is possible to show an increase of **.* points between January **** and November ****. This means that over a **-month period, consumer prices increased by **.* percent. Compared to ****, the increase stands at **.* percent. Consumer price index for food products Italy, ****-****, base ****=*** Istat Generally, the increase in consumer prices is the natural consequence of rising production costs. In relation to the homogenized preparations and dietetic foods sector (***), between May **** and November this decreased by *.* points. Compared to ****, the increase in production costs stands at **.* percent.

Producer price index for the production of homogenized preparations and dietetic foods (***) Italy, ****-****, base ****=*** Istat

2.1 Demand in Italy

In order to analyze the demand for diet foods in Italy, the shares of the population affected by the main diseases that require the adoption of a specialized diet are considered. In particular, trends in the number of individuals in an obesity condition, the number of diagnosed cases of celiac disease, and the shares of the population affected by hypertension and diabetes are analyzed.

Considering primarily those in an obesity condition, between **** and ****, the share of the population over ** years old who are obese appears to be increasing. During the period under consideration, it increased from **.*% of the population in **** to **.*% in **** (***). The trend is positive during the entire period and the growth shows annual changes substantially.

Share of population aged ** years and older in obesity status Italy, ****-****, % Istat Diagnosed cases of celiac disease are also increasing in Italy. Between **** and ****, the total number of diagnosed cases grew by **.*%, from ***,*** to ***,***. Again, this growth appears to be constant throughout the entire period. However, as clarified by theNational Institute of Health, the number of diagnosed cases is significantly lower than the total number of cases, which is estimated at ***,*** subjects in ****. Diagnosed cases of celiac disease Italy, ****-****, in thousands Iss Then ...

2.2 Demand drivers

For the analysis of dietary food demand drivers, the distribution of diagnosed cases in different age groups is analyzed.

With regard to diabetes and hypertension, a strong correlation with progressive increases in age can be shown. As shown in the graph below, just **.* percent of cases are diagnosed in individuals aged *-** years. Among baby boomers, the share of diagnosed cases rises to **.*% while nearly * out of * cases are diagnosed in individuals over **.

Subjects with chronic diseases (***), breakdown by age group Italy, ****, % Istat

The condition of obesity, on the other hand, shows a higher distribution among the different age groups, although a positive correlation with aging can also be shown here. In ****, more than * in * cases can be attributed to individuals between the ages of ** and **. The same values are recorded in both the **-** age group (***).

Population aged ** years and older with obesity, breakdown by age group Italy, ****, % Istat

2.3 Geographical distribution of demand

To visualize the geographic distribution of dietary food demand in Italy, two maps were created with the geographic distribution of subjects with chronic diseases and allergies (***) and subjects with obesity. Each of the two maps shows the concentration of subjects in each Italian macro-region compared to the national total. Therefore, a positive correlation between the share of subjects and the demand for dietary foods is assumed.

Primarily considering subjects with diabetes, hypertension and/or celiac disease, the Northwest collects the highest share of the entire peninsula, standing at **.* percent of the total. This is followed by the South and the Center, with **.* percent and **.* percent of the total, respectively. The Northeast registers a concentration almost ** percentage points lower than the Northwest (***), while the Islands are home to **.* percent of the total number of individuals.

Considering subjects with obesity status, more than * in * obese subjects (***).

3.1 The market structure

in order to analyze the market structure of diet foods, enterprises under Ateco Code **.** "Production of homogenized preparations and diet foods" are considered. In particular, the number of enterprises, the number of employees and the legal form of enterprises are analyzed.

Number of enterprises

Between **** and ****, the total number of enterprises devoted to the production of homogenized food preparations and dietetic foods appears to be growing. During the period, the number of active enterprises increased from *** to ***, marking a growth of *.* percent. The trend is fluctuating throughout the period, with positive changes recorded in ****, **** and **** (***) and a **.*% contraction recorded in ****.

Enterprises under Ateco Code **.** "Production of homogenized preparations and dietetic foods" Italy, ****-****, in Istat

Number of employees Between **** and ****, the number of employees in the sector also appears to be growing. During the period under consideration, the total number of employees in active enterprises increased from **** to ****. registering a growth of **.*%. In contrast to the number of enterprises, the trend in the number of employees shows a positive trend during the entire period, with essentially uniform annual changes. The faster growth in the number of employees placed in comparison with that recorded for the number of enterprises suggests a gradual ...

3.2 The value chain

In Italy, the control of dietetic products is managed by the Ministry of Health and follows detailed procedures to ensure safety and compliance with current regulations. The Ministry maintains a national registry of foods for special medical purposes, gluten-free and infant formulas, which includes all products that have been notified and comply with the regulations. Products notified before the new regulations came into effect must be re-notified to comply with current regulations. Controls are planned based on risk assessment, considering the entire food chain as one process and coordinating the various authorities involved to ensure more efficient action. The authorities responsible for implementing official controls in Italy include the Local Health Authorities (***), the Regions, the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano, and the Ministry of Health, which also operates through peripheral offices.

In addition, according to the principle of "from farm to table" safety, supervision and control activities already begin with agricultural products and animal feed, continuing in livestock farms, slaughterhouses and processing industries, up to the marketing stage. Controls also include verification of labeling arrangements and compliance with consumer information requirements. Food businesses are also required to implement self-control programs according to Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (***) principles to document ...

3.3 The main manufacturers

The following is a list of major Italian manufacturers of diet foods:

Dr. Schär s.p.a: is a company with over *** years of history, specializing in the development of food products for specific nutritional needs. Their range includes gluten-free foods (***). The company places a strong emphasis on quality and innovation to improve the lives of people with special dietary needs.

Enervit s.p.a: founded in **** by Paolo Sorbini, is a leading Italian company in the sports food supplement and functional nutrition market. The company focuses on the research, development, production and marketing of foods and supplements for those who practice sports and are concerned about their well-being. Enervit is known for product innovation, focusing on functional bars and other supplements for both the sports and general wellness markets.

Esi s.r.l: founded in ****, is an Italian company specializing in the production and distribution of dietary supplements, phytotherapeutic products and natural cosmetics. The company has dedicated itself to the development of innovative formulations, meeting the needs of a growing market for health products. Known for the high quality and safety of its products, ESI is committed to scientific research and technological development.

InGeovita s.r.l: founded in ...

4.1 Type of the offer

Diet foods, also known as "regimen foods" or for "special nutrition," differ from functional foods. While functional foods contain components, often non-nutritious, that positively influence the body's physiological functions and are intended for healthy individuals to maintain health, diet foods are specifically designed for people with certain diseases and require a prescription. The term "diet product" covers a wide range of products with different applications. Only legislation can provide precise criteria to identify the exact nature of these products for consumers. Dietetic products are defined as "products intended for particular nutrition" as foods that differ from common foods in composition or production process and that meet specific nutritional objectives. Normatively, the use of the term "dietetic" is optional and indicates the ability of a product to meet special nutritional needs, without implications for the quality or energy value of the food. The three categories of consumers to whom dietetic products are targeted are:

People with reduced, limited or disturbed ability to absorb, digest, assimilate, metabolize or excrete ordinary foods, or with special nutritional needs due to health conditions. People with special physiological conditions who benefit from controlled intake of certain substances in foods. Infants (***) or children in early childhood in good ...

4.2 The prices

The following is a list of some dietary products by category:

Gluten-free foods

Aproteic foods

Low glycemic index foods

Low-sodium foods

4.3 New supply trends: artificial intelligence and wearable devices

Artificial Intelligence

The use of Artificial Intelligence (***)

In ****, the global market for artificial intelligence in the food and beverage industry is estimated at $*.* billion. Between **** and ****, a compound annual growth rate (***) of **.*% is projected under which the world market could reach a total value of $**.** billion by the end of the period.

Artificial intelligence market in the agribusiness industry World, ****-****, in billions of dollars Mordorintelligence

Wearable devices

The supply of wearable devices to monitor nutrient intake is a rapidly expanding area, particularly useful for people with specific diseases. These devices can range from sensors that monitor blood glucose levels for diabetics to wristbands that track macronutrient intake. The use of these technologies allows patients to have more accurate, real-time control of their diet, which is essential for managing their condition. Some of these devices can synchronize with mobile apps that provide detailed analysis and personalized advice based on the data collected. Another example are smart bracelets and smartwatches that can track not only physical activity but also various aspects of food intake and overall health. Although they are not as accurate as specific medical devices, they can provide a useful overview for managing diet-related diseases.(***)

5.1 The legislation

he market for diet foods, as with many other food products, is regulated by various laws and regulations at both the national and European levels. These laws are concerned with ensuring the quality, food safety and efficacy of the product. Some of the main laws and regulations for the dietetic food market in Italy are:

Regulation (***) ****/****: defines the requirements for products presented as substitutes for the entire daily food ration for control. Regulation (***) ***/**** of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to specific composition and information requirements for foods for special medical purposes. Commission Implementing Regulation (***) No ***/****: on requirements regarding consumer information on the absence of gluten or its reduced presence in food. Regulation (***) by regulating the content and marketing of food products specially created and marketed for them. Regulation (***) ***/****: on substances that may be added for specific nutritional purposes to foods for particular nutritional uses. Directive ****/**/EC: amending Directive **/*/EC with regard to the labelling, advertising or presentation of foods intended for low-calorie diets for weight reduction. Ministry of Health Decree July **, ****: Rules for the implementation of Directive ****/**/EC. Regulation (***) No. ****/****:on nutrition and health claims made on foods.

6.1 Segmentation

• InGeovita s.r.l
• Ekalab s.r.l
• Esi s.r.l
• NT Food s.p.a
• Salix s.r.l
• Dr. Schär s.p.a
• Eurospital s.p.aEurospital s.p.a
• Nutrition & Sante' Italia s.p.a