It is the chain of masterpieces of kitchen, gastronomy and professional and domestic equipment for food that has been driving all over the world for years the export of made in Italy and, at the same time, it favors the growth of tourism as well as that of other manufacturing sectors in our country. With a value of over 575 billion euros, this supply chain represents the first wealth of the country and is preparing to exceed 600 billion in a short time. The shortage of electronic components and raw materials (especially stainless steel), together with energy costs, could slow down its expansion, but, according to unofficial estimates, much less than feared.
In the meantime, a long-awaited measure has arrived on theupdating and technological efficiency of the equipment for catering and hospitality. Finally, as we announced months ago, the funds have been allocated (56 million euro) with the implementing decree of Fund to support the excellence of gastronomy. An important milestone was thus achieved for the catering sector, thanks also to the activity carried out by Efcem Italia, the association of manufacturers of appliances for restaurants and hospitality, which in recent months had made itself available to the Ministry of Agricultural and Food Policies and Forestry, providing data and characteristics of the sector of professional catering equipment functional to the drafting of the measure.
Horeca, 3-digit growth
It should be emphasized that a strong contribution to the recovery of the Italian manufacturing of professional equipment also came from increases in 2022 of the "away from home", or Horeca: +110% of dinners, lunches, aperitifs and after dinner... Thanks to the cooperation between institutions and entrepreneurs, the parameters and the snapshot of the problems that the long closure of the premises due to Covid had caused (with declines of turnover and sales of 20% and peaks of 40).
Efcem operators have identified and indicated the measures and funds necessary for the renewal of obsolete and energy-intensive equipment, all the more urgent given the need to cut consumption and waste, thus making a contribution to further implementing sales on world markets. Domestically, the sector is close to 80% of production at Italian sites and, according to unofficial estimates, is on track to exceed 6 billion euros in turnover.
The companies that are part of Efcem have scored an increase in exports in the first three months of 2022 by 9% on 2021 and by 13,6% on the same period of 2019. And a +16% of turnover on 2019, despite the double-digit growth in the prices of all components and stainless steel (the raw material par excellence sector).
How the Business Support Fund works
"Through the granting and disbursement of grants for investments in professional machinery and other durable capital goods - reads the official communication of Efcem - the fund is aimed at promoting and supporting companies of excellence in the catering and pastry sectors and at enhance the Italian agri-food and food and wine heritage". In particular, “56 million euros have been allocated, of which 25 million for 2022 and 31 million for 2023”. The Fund to support the excellence of Italian gastronomy and agri-food is intended for companies operating in sectors with Ateco code 56.10.11 (Catering with administration), 56.10.30 (Ice cream parlors and pastry shops) and 10.71.20 (Production of fresh pastries ).
Eligible expenses – underlines EFCEM – relate to the purchase of professional machinery and capital goods for the company's activity, under the de minimis regime, not exceeding 70% of the total eligible expenses and 30 euros for each individual company.
