n.587

Christmas 2025: the best pandoro and panettone at the supermarket according to Altroconsumo


Shortlist of Pandoro Tre Marie - Il pandoro Magnifico - 69 Conad - Pandoro - 67 Favorina (Lidl) - Pandoro Classico 63 Melegatti - Il pandoro originale - 62 Maina - Il pandoro - 61 Motta - Il pandoro secondo Bruno Barbieri - 61 Bauli - Il pandoro di Verona - 61 Balocco - Il pandoro - 60 Bistefani - Pandoro - 58 Paluani - Il pandoro di Verona - 54 Shortlist of panettoni Coop - Panettone Classico - 65 Giovanni Cova&Co - Panettone classico - 64 Le Grazie (Esselunga) - Panettone basso ricetta classica - 63 Maina - Il gran nocciolato - 62 Bauli - Il panettone classico - 58 Balocco - Il mandorlato - 58 Il viaggiator goloso - Panettone - 57 Fiasconaro - Panettone tradizionale - 56 Motta - Il panettone tradizionale Bruno Barbieri - 56 Tre Marie - Il panettone Milanese - 56 Duca Moscati (Eurospin) - Panettone - 54 Galup - Gran Galup tradizionale - 53 Source Read also this article. Compiled 6 December, updated 8 December 2025

ConadCoopEsselunga
 

n.586

Lidl USA launches first holiday meal offer for less than $4 per person


Lidl US is betting on value for the holidays by launching its first holiday meal offer, a package that promises to feed a dozen guests for less than the price of a fast-food combo meal. The promotion, valid from 10 to 24 December at participating shops, offers enough food for 12 people for less than $4 per person. Each item on the shopping list is sold separately, giving shoppers the freedom to expand or reduce the menu to suit their needs. Progressive Grocer Walmart also does this kind of promotion.

LidlWalmart
 

n.585

The effect of climate change on coffee: more and more complicated to grow Arabica. And quality suffers


Brazilian producers are choosing more drought-resistant species such as Robusta. But the taste is changing, getting worse: more bitter and with more caffeine. Behind a bean an entire supply chain is changing face: the Arabica variety, Brazilian farmers explain, requires more stable climatic conditions, average altitudes and moderate temperatures than the current climatic extremes. Then there is the problem of inflation and the cost of coffee at the bar: this year Arabica is priced 50 per cent higher than a year ago.One way to tackle the climate challenge is to increase production of the Robusta variety, which has shown itself to be more resilient than Arabica: it tolerates heat and water stress better, and can also be grown at lower altitudes. These characteristics make it safer to the point that in Brazil it has grown at an average annual rate of about 4.8 % compared to 2-2.5 % for Arabica. Green&Blue wonders whether consumers will be able to adapt. In Italy certainly, because very often the coffee that is drunk in public places is bad.

AgricultureClimate changeInflation
 

n.584

JD.com acquires a total share of 85.2% in Ceconomy which controls Mediaworld


In the meantime, JD.com had to accept a number of restrictions, from the French and Italian governments, concerning its indirect 22% stake in FnacDarty, a share held by Ceconomy itself. These restrictions extend, as a logical consequence, also to the subsidiary Unieuro, where the French owns 100 per cent. The main shareholder of FnacDarty remains, however, with 28%, the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky who controls Metro and what remains of Casino. The company posted a turnover of $158.8 billion (€152.8 billion) in the financial year ending 31 December 2024. You can read about it here.

CasinoE-CommerceNon-food
 

n.583

Amazon launches 30-minute food delivery in selected markets


The service is currently being tested in parts of Seattle and Philadelphia. Amazon Now includes thousands of household essentials and fresh groceries, delivered from smaller, specialised facilities designed for efficient order fulfilment. According to the company, this approach 'prioritises the safety of employees picking and packing orders, reduces the distance couriers have to travel, and enables faster delivery times'. Shipping costs start at $3.99 for Prime customers and $13.99 for non-customers. A fee of $1.99 will be charged for orders under $15.

AmazonE-Commerce
 

n.580

Amazon reduces sales commissions in Europe in price war with Shein and Temu


As of 15 December, Amazon reduces the referral fees charged on clothes and accessories from 7% to 5% for items up to 15 euros ($17.41) or 15 pounds ($19.79) and from 15% to 10% for items between 15 and 20 euros or pounds... Shein, which sells tops for €3 and jeans for only €8.20, has taken market share from European fast fashion retailers and challenged Amazon with its marketplace selling everything from duvet covers to hoovers Amazon is the dominant e-commerce platform in Germany, France and other European countries, in a market where turnover is expected to grow by 7% to EUR 900 billion this year, according to forecasts by the industry association Ecommerce Europe. Reuters

AmazonE-CommerceNon-foodShein
 

n.576

Italy: 35 % drink only mineral water


One of the reasons why the world record gets little media attention is that no one wants to lose the 80 million budgets that bottling companies invest in advertising to differentiate a product that, in 90% of cases, is indistinguishable from others and where the brand can only be recognised by the colour of the label. When it comes to mineral water, the media prefer to focus on uncontroversial aspects such as the efficient recycling system, leaving out the critical economic and environmental issues. For its part, the industry has always been very adept at conveying the image of excellent mineral water: pure at origin, with often invented health virtues (lightness, diet, sport...), and safe because it is authorised by the Ministry of Health. Being the first consumer in the world of a product perceived as healthy is implicitly considered a 'neutral' or even 'positive' record. Here, mineral consumption is seen as a cultural choice, as an established habit rather than a public network failure.

Water