The Italian food sector will register a 5% decrease in revenue in 2020 due to the effect of coronavirus, but is likely to stage a comeback next year, posting 7.7% growth. The forecast comes from the sixth edition of the Food Industry Monitor by the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo (Cuneo), carried out in association with Ceresio Investors.

Operating margins in the food sector should fall from 6.2% to 5.9% this year, before rising again to 6% in 2021, it said. Despite the unfavourable economic situation in Italy, exports will grow by an average of 11% in the period 2020-2021.