Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – "Today, the Italian restaurant industry confirms itself as a true economic engine for Italy, with consumption exceeding €100 billion and an added value of €59,3 billion. In this context, the organized catering industry represented by Aigrim represents a dynamic excellence worth approximately €10 billion, capable of combining quality, innovation, and a widespread presence throughout the country."
This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida, participating in Aigrim Day 2026, the chain restaurant forum, organized in Milan and promoted by Aigrim (Association of Large-Scale Multi-Localized Catering and Service Companies) and Fipe (Italian Federation of Public Establishments).
“We're talking about a sector that provides employment to hundreds of thousands of workers, representing the first showcase of our agri-food excellence and Made in Italy,” he adds. “This doesn't just mean products made by us, but beauty, quality, well-being, wealth, and much more: a source of pride for us, but also of interest for the rest of the world.
Today, guaranteeing work and dignified wages means having a quality production system that must be protected. We need to work harder and harder, but our government has already taken action to strengthen welfare and reduce labor costs. It's crucial to empower our entrepreneurs to offer a fair wage, and that's precisely what we've focused on.
“We said 'enough' to measures that undermined our economy, such as the Citizen's Income,” he states. “By canceling it, we achieved a major result: an increase in employment in Italy, which has now reached unprecedented levels.
Permanent employment and female employment levels represent important milestones, but they are only the beginning of a journey that must see Italy increasingly central and increasingly an example for others." The minister thanked "all those who, together with us, nominated Italian cuisine as the first UNESCO intangible cultural heritage." This achievement was made possible thanks to the story of "our culture, supported by our embassies and our restaurant businesses around the world." "We have enabled other countries to understand what the table means to us," he concluded, "something much deeper than a simple place to eat. Conviviality is a key element of our being together."
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