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What the new decree on dealcoholised wine envisages and why the sector has been waiting for it for a long time


The decree comes after a long period of waiting [ and opposition from the ministry and Coldiretti ] by the wine industry and sector associations. In recent months, the issue of dealcoholised wine has remained suspended in a regulatory vacuum that has slowed down investment, experimentation and industrial planning, despite the fact that European regulations were already in place. The trade associations had repeatedly called for an intervention that would clarify above all the fiscal and authorisation aspects, considered the main obstacle to the full operation of the segment in Italy. The lack of a framework on excise duties and the management of tax deposits had in fact created legal uncertainty for producers interested in developing dealcoholised or partially dealcoholised wine lines. With the signing of the decree, the regulatory perimeter within which the sector will be able to move is now established, at least as far as tax treatment, authorisations, and operating methods related to production and storage are concerned. The decree was signed by the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida (below with Cesare Prandini, President Coldiretti)

AgricultureColdiretti
 

n.608

Peter Brabeck-Lemathe leaves Nestlé: what does it mean?


I copy an article of mine from the 1990s: "Peter Brabeck-Letmathe was CEO (managing director) of Nestlé at the time, today he is its Chairman (chairman of the board). There were 'sparks' with Brabeck during one of his visits to Milan. We were in the fruit and vegetable department of the Superstore in Corsico... Then, as none of us had any interest in quarrelling, everything returned to order. And Nestlé, very realistically, will end up eliminating GMOs from its products in Italy'. The fact that as honorary chairman, Brabeck- Lemathe was no longer listened to and questioned makes one realise how much Nestlé has lost its bearings. And in fact, for years, it has been going through a deep crisis, which seems to have no end ( it had its biggest problem with water and frozen pizzas. On water it got away with it). Drafted 27 December, updated 31 December 2025

Fruit and vegetablesGMOsNestlèSuperstoresWater
 

n.607

The unstoppable rise of YouTube as the leader in views


.. In September, YouTube said it had paid over $100 billion to creators, artists and media groups by 2021. In the last quarter, YouTube's advertising revenue increased by 15% to $10.3 billion. The number of YouTube channels earning more than $100,000 from connected TVs increased by 45% year-on-year. The YouTube model has made many creators very rich,... However, being a successful creator is hard work: they are responsible for making videos that people want to watch, attracting advertisers and developing sponsorship deals with brands. "They are not just creators, they are entrepreneurs," says Sean Downey, Google's president for the Americas and global partners. The Interactive Advertising Bureau estimates that the 'creator economy' advertising market is expected to reach $37 billion this year, up 26 per cent year-on-year. The group expects a further 18% increase in 2026. Financial Times

Streaming
 

n.606

Auchan’s great involution in supermarkets: it sells to Lidl and has part of its network managed by Intermarchè


19 Auchan supermarkets were sold to Lidl for €30 million (source: Olivier Dauvers) and, in November 2025, 300 other similar areas were franchised to Intermarchè. Auchan after wanting to merge with Carrefour and buying back part of the Casino network seems, given the enormous difficulties it is experiencing, to want to concentrate on hypermarkets only. p.s.: even in Italy , Auchan's supermarkets, operated under various SMA and then Simply Market brands, had not been a success. Compiled on 26 December , updated on 27 December 2025

AuchanCarrefourCasinoLidl
 

n.605

Retail prices in Italy and inflation: antitrust investigates


In a nutshell, food inflation is higher than total inflation (which includes other items, such as energy, services, etc.) and therefore the AGCM opened a file on it. We fear it has done so unnecessarily because the prices of many consumer goods - used every day in the lives of Italians - have risen sharply, much higher than average, even in the food sector as a whole. Below - in the first image - you will find some examples. This has also happened in other countries (e.g. meat in the USA). Even during Covid- 19 a similar investigation was triggered, which then ended up in thin air: the real, long-standing problem, which has never been addressed and solved, is that of farmers' profitability (see Repubblica piece below). On this issue you can also read this article. Written on 24 December, updated on 25 December 2025

AgricultureAntitrustCovid-19InflationMeat
 

n.602

Shein opens a distribution centre in Poland


Shein 's distribution centre is located on an area of 40,000 square metres at the GLP Wroclaw V Logistics Centre in Magnice, near Wroclaw, employing more than a thousand people. The distribution centre is located at the crossroads of routes that facilitate the delivery of products to customers in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. Employees will benefit from convenient bus and train connections from the centre of Wroclaw and neighbouring cities. Blocking Shein as the French government would like to do is impossible, making it comply with European standards should be a goal of all EU states. Below: some Shein garments at the BHV department store in Paris.

E-CommerceNon-foodShein
 

n.601

China raises its sights on European dairy products: duties up to 42.7 per cent


The trade war between China and the European Union is widening and hitting one of the continent's iconic agri-food sectors. Starting tomorrow, Beijing will apply provisional duties on dairy products imported from the EU, with rates ranging from 21.9% to 42.7%. In the crosshairs are milk and cheese, excellences that represent a significant item of European exports to the Chinese market. The measure comes as a direct response to the tensions that have exploded in recent months around electric vehicles. After Brussels launched an investigation into Chinese state subsidies to car manufacturers, Beijing has gradually extended the comparison to other sectors, this time focusing on agriculture and the food industry. Red Prawn

 

n.600

US: dollar sales of fresh beef increased by 12.4% to USD 44 billion


But beef prices have risen 6.7% in the past year, with inflation accelerating in recent months, according to data from Chicago-basedCircana. Despite rising prices, beef is seeing growth in premium segments, such as the Prime line of Certified Angus Beef (pictured below). Source : Progressive Grocer The increase in total volume (kg) - premium and non-premium - was still very strong at 5.7%. Read more on the subject here.

InflationMeat