…” Large-scale retail trade, Centre-South grows by 4.4%. And beats the North… In order to intercept a more heterogeneous and price-sensitive demand, southern operators have built up larger brand portfolios over time… At the same time, the weight of local products is growing[ Lidl has also realised this], with a 14% higher incidence than in the rest of Italy.
But the model based on territorial roots is no longer sufficient… In this context [geared towards convenience and margins under pressure, says Andrea Petronio] technology is a candidate as an enabling factor. The potential for improvement in EBIT is estimated at up to 3 to 4 points, while with 30 per cent of activities that can be automated, revenue growth would be between 5 and 15 per cent and productivity gains of up to 15 per cent in support functions…
“Those who know how to combine territorial roots, industrial discipline and effective adoption of new technologies will be able to turn market complexity into a sustainable advantage.”
Read also : Carrefour relies on ChatGPT to win new customers
Drafted 28 March, updated 2 April 2026
