Distribuzione e Revenue

📍 Joerg Eberhart, CEO of Ita Airways, reports a good start to the year with strong booking trends but refrains from making predictions for the latter half of 2025 due to uncertainties such as a potential slowdown in the US market. The industrial plan is slated to be ready in the next three to four weeks and will be reviewed by unions before its official presentation. Ita Airways aims for long-haul growth and to increase its market share at Fiumicino Airport, which is currently under 15%.

🍕 In Italy, pizzerias rose to 88,793 in 2023, a 25% increase. The frozen pizza sector leads with 86% of the market share, totaling €490 million in sales. Italy's pizza industry has a turnover of over €15 billion, producing 2.7 billion pizzas yearly. In 2024, restaurant pizza prices went up by 4%, while supermarket pizza prices dropped by up to 2%. Retail sales increased by 5.8% in volume and 4.7% in value, reaching €570 million. Long-life pizzas surged by 60%, hitting €42 million, overtaking fresh pizzas at €38 million. The frozen pizza sector, worth €490 million, enjoys an 86% market share in supermarkets. Classic round pizzas grew by 5% annually, earning €182 million versus the €204 million by XL pizzas. Internationally, Italian frozen pizza is valued at $21 billion, expected to reach $40 billion within a decade. Italpizza, with €430 million in revenue and 60% exports, invested €12 million to produce up to 100 million pizzas annually. Roncadin, with over €200 million in turnover, opened a U.S. facility capable of 25 million pizzas per year, set to double after an €18 million investment.

📍 Ryanair is considering further reductions in operations at Spanish airports due to high airport taxes. The airline has urged Aena, the Spanish airport operator, to lower fees, highlighting that regional airports need low taxes to stimulate growth. Despite potential cuts that could reduce capacity by 800,000 seats compared to the previous year, Ryanair has added about 1.5 million seats at major Spanish airports like Madrid, Malaga, and Alicante.

🍫 Barry Callebaut Group, a global leader in chocolate and cocoa products, plans to significantly expand its production capacity in the United States as part of a strategy to strengthen its supply network in North America. In the first half of fiscal 2024/25 (ending February 28, 2025), sales volume reached 1,085,048 tonnes, a 4.7% decrease, while revenue hit CHF 7.287,1 million, a 63.1% increase in local currencies (56.9% in CHF). Recurring EBIT was CHF 329.6 million, up 1.5% in local currencies (down 2.9% in CHF), and net recurring profit fell to CHF 63.5 million (down 69.4% in local currencies), impacted by higher financing costs and market backwardation. Cocoa bean prices surged 95% year-over-year, while global sugar prices dropped 20%, and dairy product prices increased by 1%. Latin America saw a 7.5% growth; Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) grew by 1.8%, and North America experienced a 2.3% volume decrease. Global Chocolate sales volumes fell 4.5%, Food Manufacturers were hit with a 5.6% decrease, and the Gourmet segment grew by 0.7%.

🏖 In Italy, the Excelsior survey by Unioncamere and the Ministry of Labor revealed tourism as the top employment sector in Q1 2025, with 397,000 profiles sought and 112,000 new hires in the final month. Services led with over 460,000 roles, outpacing industries like manufacturing and agriculture. Engineering technicians (68%), process management technicians (65%), and health technicians (64.7%) topped intellectual professions. Temporary contracts dominated at 60% (272,000), permanent at 19% (88,000), followed by agency contracts at 8% (37,780), and apprenticeships at 5% (22,260).

🏨 Hotel star classifications range from 1 to 5, signaling varying levels of comfort, service, and guest experience. In Italy, star ratings are regionally regulated, though the 2008 EU directive aims for greater harmonization. Compliance involves periodic inspections, self-assessment forms, and adherence to regional technical requirements. Hoteliers can improve their rating by staying informed, investing in guest experience (e.g., online check-in via platforms like Chekin), training staff, and actively responding to feedback.

📱 90% of Italians plan at least one holiday trip; 60% aim to travel within Europe, 30% outside the continent. The EY Future Travel Behaviours study includes participants from France, Germany, Spain, and the UK. Italy ranks after Spain, with 24% of European travelers choosing it as a destination. Combining holiday and work increased by 14% since last year. Millennials' work-vacation blending grew from 63% to 67%, Gen Z's from 71% to 79%. Workation, bleisure, and digital nomadism are preferred by 25%, 24%, and 14% of Italians, respectively. Over-tourism concerns 80% of travelers, with 42% planning off-season travel, 36% choosing lesser-known destinations, and 25% willing to pay a tourist tax for crowded spots.

✈ Perugia Airport recorded 70,786 passengers in the first three months of 2025, a 23% increase from the same period in 2024. The summer season began on March 30, exceeding 19,000 passengers in April's first ten days. Projections indicate over 60,000 passengers for April, potentially setting a new monthly record with an estimated 20% growth from 2024. The summer network includes up to 17 routes with 114 weekly flights. New routes include Perugia-Pantelleria by Hello Fly and increased frequencies by Ryanair. British Airways, Transavia, and Wizz Air confirmed international routes with multiple weekly flights. Aeroitalia will resume flights to Olbia and Lamezia Terme starting June 14.

📍 The World Travel & Tourism Council's Economic Impact Research (EIR) predicts in 2025, travel and tourism will contribute $11.7 trillion (10.3% of global GDP) to the global economy. Visitor spending is expected to reach a historic high of $2.1 trillion, surpassing 2019's peak of $1.9 trillion. Employment in the sector will grow by 14 million, totaling 371 million jobs worldwide. By 2035, the sector is forecasted to inject $16.5 trillion (11.5% of global GDP) into the economy, with an annual growth rate of 3.5%, and create 460 million jobs, with international spending reaching $2.9 trillion.

🍕 The 9th edition of La Città della Pizza will hold its selections on April 14, 15, and 16 at GARUM, Rome's Circo Massimo, featuring dozens of national pizzaioli. Participants will use Valoriani ovens and high-quality ingredients provided by sponsors to compete for 9 final spots. The jury, led by Luciano Pignataro, will evaluate pizzas on various aspects. The finale will take place on September 14 at Piazza di Siena during Vinòforum 2025, with a €4,000 prize. The event features a Social Table collaboration and Leffe beer pairings.