Quick Take — Historic change: Supermarkets lead volume growth, overtaking Discounts

“From 2019 to 2023, their [the discounters’] turnover grew at an average annual rate of 9.3 per cent, compared to 5.7 per cent for the other operators”(we reported this here). Then there was aturnaround: the growth in volume of the hyper and super channel exceeded (2.5%) that of the discounters (1.3%) . E-commerce was very good at 8.4% (see first table below).

Circana data show how, after 9.1% in 2023, value sales grew more slowly in 2024 ( 2.4%) to consolidate in 2025 with a further 3.7%.

The significant novelty is that, unlike the previous two-year period, growth is no longer just an effect of prices, but is accompanied by a recovery in real demand: volumes, in fact, declining by 0.5% in 2023, turn positive in 2024 ( 1.8%) and accelerate in 2025 ( 2.3%). Supporting this rebalancing is also the dynamics of prices, which after a 9.5% surge in 2023, stop at 0.6% in 2024 and travel at 1.4% in 2025, returning to physiological levels.

Below: one of the factors in the recovery of the Iper Super channel (in which there are also superstores) was probably the strength of the private label, which expressed convenience, and which is beating the leading brands (such as Barilla or Coca-Cola, to give examples, see the second table). A comparison between the different channels – hyper/super/superstore ‘versus’ discounters – on prices is unfortunately not possible to date.

p.s.: looking at the ISTAT data, the drop in volumes highlighted a few days ago, seems to affect only small retailers, not the GD (page 3).

Note that ISTAT has only been using barcodes since 2020 and that not all retailers use them.

Compiled 7 September, updated 8 September 2025

Quick Take — The most convenient supermarket and discount chains

As Food Fact rightly says , ‘The most popular shopping in supermarkets and hypermarkets is mixed:

In this category we have Famila and Famila Superstore (Selex) as the first insignia, followed by Coop, Conad, Panorama. Interspar, Esselunga Superstore Carrefour Market close the ranking.

P.S.: I wonder how the signs in the category mentioned below that of Iper and Super – I am referring to ‘mixed shopping’ (discount) – can be compared since I understand that some signs do not have branded products but only private label products.

Quick Take — ALDI conquers Manhattan

Drafted 23 August, updated 25 August 2025

The new shop near Times Square will open next year and will be 2,500 sqm.

The discount chain has 2,500 outlets in the United States and already has outlets in the city (see photos below).

The trend of discounters replacing supermarkets in city centres is confirmed: Lidl is opening in the centre of Milan(while Aldi has it surrounded).

Confirmation on Italy can be found here.

On the other hand, the Casino discounters in Paris have been in the centre for decades.

Interesting: Aldi creates a Fan Club in the USA

Compiled 25 August, updated 1 September 2025

Quick Take — Aldi creates a Fan Club in the USA

ALDI Quarter Club” members will receive prizes such as:

  • One year of free groceries for an individual

  • An exclusive invitation to a members-only event in the retailer’s hometown

  • A personalised Quarter Club style jacket, among other merchandising items

  • A chance to be featured on ALDI’s social channels

Source.

Conclusion: Aldi, like Lidl and other discounters, is always ‘more supermarket (and less discount)’.

Quick Take — Eurospin over 9 billion turnover. Ready to land in Serbia

Source

The Eurospin network has about 1,340 stores. At the beginning of September it will open 3 more: in Parabiago, Orte and Terni. In 2024 it cut the ribbon at 35 new pdv…

In 2024 the Eurospin Italia group achieved a value of production of 9.14 billion, 4 .9%, an Ebitda of 635 million (-2%) and a profit of 395 million (-7.4%). Net retail revenue growth (9.03 billion) stopped at 5%, half the average from 2019. And the margin ratio also lost half a point to 7%. Eurospin is the only Italian retailer with international projection (about fifty stores in Slovenia, Croatia and Malta and soon in Serbia), except for Conad in Albania, which relies on third-party entrepreneurs, and Crai in Malta.
In Italy, the market share in the discount channel exceeds 31% and 8% in the large-scale retail trade. Average revenues per pdv are 6.8 million . 100% of the offer is own brand.

Unfair Practices : The failure of regulation

Penalties for unfair practices in 2023-2024 amount to only 665,000 euros against estimated damages of at least 350 million annually. in essence on prices and unfair practices the ‘dolce far niente’ of Italian politics continues. Remember this when you see the next tractors in the square or when you hear about the sad affairs of groups like Auchan, Casino, Carrefour Italia and others

About the GS- Carrefour operation and the Benetton – Delvecchio consortium

“Someone still has to explain to me why, in a retail market that needed concentration [and expertise], the government allowed a group that didn’t even have a delicatessen, to buy GS (which belonged to Sme =IRI= Italian State!) and then resell it quietly to a foreign group (Carrefour) after a few years” Mario Gasbarrino. This also applies to the New Princes operation