IN BREVE
- Italian spending on the Christmas table reached 3 billion euros, with a preference for products of national origin.
- 91% of Italians spent Christmas lunch at home, preferring menus based on Italian and zero-km ingredients.
- Families spent approximately 1 billion euros on fish, meats and cured meats, and 650 million on beverages, including sparkling wine and wine.
- The most consumed dessert was panettone, with 47% of families preparing it at home.
- Agriturismos saw a 5% increase in bookings, with over 2 million Italians choosing them for the holidays.
Italian spending to bring food and beverages to the Christmas table reached 3 billion euros. Coldiretti drew up the report, highlighting a clear preference for traditional cuisine and products of national origin.
According to the analysis, more than nine out of ten citizens, equal to 91%, spent Christmas lunch at their own home or at the home of relatives and friends. A small portion instead chose restaurants and agriturismos for the holiday meal.
TRADITIONAL MENU AND ITALIAN PRODUCTS
Most families oriented their choices toward a menu based on Italian and zero-km ingredients, also in the wake of the recognition of Italian cuisine as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The total spending estimated by Coldiretti includes approximately one billion euros allocated to fish, meats and cured meats, 650 million euros for sparkling wine, wine and other beverages. And 350 million euros for sweets, including panettone, pandoro and baked goods.
To these items are added 600 million euros spent on vegetables, preserves, fresh fruit and dried fruit, plus 200 million euros for pasta and bread and another 200 million for cheeses and eggs.
TIME IN THE KITCHEN, DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION and agriturismos
Those who prepared Christmas lunch spent an average of 2.8 hours in the kitchen. In almost one case out of ten, equal to 9%, takeout food or dishes brought by others were used instead. Eight people sat at the table, a figure in line with what was recorded in previous years.
Positive sign also for agriturismos, chosen by over 2 million Italians for the Christmas holidays, between meals and overnight stays. The figure marks a 5% increase compared to last year, confirming the attractiveness of rural facilities during the holiday period.
SWEETS PROTAGONISTS OF CHRISTMAS
Sweets lead the ranking of the most consumed products during the Christmas holidays, according to the Coldiretti/Ixè survey. 47% of families prepared them at home, while 70% of respondents declared they purchased them.
Dried fruit and sparkling wine follow, both at 53%, then wine at 42%, fish at 40% and meat at 39%. Cured meats stand at 29%, while fruit and vegetables at 24% and cheeses at 23% record lower percentages. Spirits at 15% and beer at 7% close out the list.
