Restaurant chains withstand the out-of-home consumption crisis

According to TradeLab, however, the Italian out-of-home food & beverage market in 2024 has confirmed itself as a giant with over 101 billion in turnover, with chains continuing to conquer space. Against the general slowdown in attendance in more 'traditional' restaurants - visits down 2%, equal to about 200 million fewer consumptions - and stable turnover in the last twelve months (around 90.4 billion), chains are in fact registering an increase in visits (+1.3%) and in the value generated (+5.4% to 10.6 billion).

This catering model has hosted 11% of visits despite the fact that numerically speaking the outlets are only 3.7% of the total (12,000 against 318,000). And it is an expanding format despite the slowdown due to the economic crisis: +17% in the last two years and +10% in employment. With a pstill remarkable potential, considering that chains in Italy account for 10.5% of turnover against 33% in Europe.

Also because, according to Tradelab, it is 'a success mainly driven by the ability to intercept younger targets: Gen Z and Millennials account for 49% of the chains' customers, attracted mainly by convenience (57%), consumer experience and customer care (27%) and speed of service (17%)'.

For the development of this out-of-home model a key role is played by shopping centres: according to Deloitte, "the recovery of the industry in this sector, already evident in 2023, is consolidated in 2024 (+0.7%), with catering a real growth engine, reaching a turnover of 5.7 billion". A significant figure concerns the average ticket: compared to 2022 this "has grown considerably, with +14% for full service restaurants and +13% for quick service restaurants, testifying to a strong capacity for attraction and loyalty".

Quelli appena descritti sono i principali trend emersi durante l’Aigrim Day 2025, il forum annuale della ristorazione in catena organizzato dall’associazione che in seno a Fipe-Confcommercio rappresenta le grandi imprese multilocalizzate. «Le catene si confermano un settore in forte espansione – dice Riccardo Orlandi, presidente di Aigrim –. Sono stati raggiunti traguardi importanti e stiamo lavorando a nuovi, innovativi progetti in ambito formazione e reclutamento. Tra questi, un percorso per Restaurant Manager, volto a valorizzare i giovani talenti nel settore della ristorazione, e un piano di recruiting in collaborazione tra Italia e Tunisia per facilitare l’incontro tra domanda e offerta nel settore». L’iniziativa pilota mira a contrastare la carenza di personale attraverso un programma di immigrazione controllata. È attualmente in attesa di approvazione da parte delle istituzioni e prevede la formazione di una sessantina di lavoratori tunisini.