Distributing a product

Evolution of the sector

For a long time, Italian industries were not competitive enough, and this led the Italian government to set up import barriers. The Italian population is traditionally attached to local shops. Modern distribution made its appearance a few years ago with the rise of large international groups such as Auchan/Rinascente or Carrefour who took advantage of a relaxing of legislation concerning setting up business, made necessary by European harmonization.
In 2004, Italian retail trade represented 328.5 billion euros, a growth of 1.2% compared with 2003.

Market shares

The leading distributor in Italy is the Coop Italia group which is based on a network of more than 1 000 outlets in Italy and which had 17.7% of market share in 2004. Carrefour Italia had 10% and Auchan/Rinascente 9.5%.
Generally speaking, foreign names represent 47% of hypermarkets. In 2004, there were 469 hypermarkets, 990 supermarkets, and 6 627 small supermarkets. The foodstuff distribution market is very concentrated as the leading 10 groups have 77% of market share.
However, there is an imbalance between the north and the south of the country, however: more than 50% of supermarkets and 65% of hypermarkets are concentrated in the north. As a result, the large groups will have to concentrate their efforts on the southern part of the country.

Organizations in the retail sector

CONFIDA
Federi
Lega Coop

Types of outlet

Department Stores

Clothes, Cosmetics, Jewelry, Foodstuffs
La Rinascente, Coin in Rome, Milan, Naples

Supermarkets and hypermarkets

Supermarket and hypermarket
Pam, Conad, Panorama, Auchan in Rome, Milan, Turin

Discount

Foodstuffs and beverages
Dico, Lidl in Rome, Milan

Home centers

Furnishings and decoration
Ikea, Ovvio in Rome, Milan

Cooperative

80% foodstuffs and 20% everyday products and clothes
Coop all over Italy

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Organizing goods transport

Main useful means of transport

The specialized port sector (containers) is in full expansion in Italy, someting that is proven by the presence of nine Italian ports in the ranking of the thirty main ports in the European Union, in terms of container traffic. The role of sea transport has been expanded in Italy and in trade inside the Community thanks to the project of "sea highways" in the framework of the development of the trans-European transport network.

Every year, 750 000 tonnes of freight transit via the two international airports of Roma Fiumicino and Milano Malpensa.

Goods transport by road represented 1.243 million tonnes in 2003.

The Italian rail network carries 87 million tonnes of goods every year in Italy.

Ports

Port of Genoa
Port of La Spezia
Port of Naples
Port of Livorno (in Italian)
Port of Ancona
Port of Brindisi
Port of Taranto
Port of Trieste
All Italian ports

Airports

Milan Airports
Rome Airports

Sea transport organizations

ANSEP-UNITAM
Ministry of Transport

Air transport organizations

ANAMA (National association of air freight agents)
Ministry of Transport

Road transport organizations

Ministry of Transport

Rail transport organizations

CESIFER, center for rail company safety certification (technical management of RFI)
Ministry of Transport