«The increase in the prices of raw materials that we reported months ago is now one of the main problems for the food industry as well. That is to say that the increase in product prices will be inevitable, on pain of the closure of many of our businesses ”. Ivano Vacondio, president of Federalimentare, says this without half measures: either consumers are charged more, or many companies are no longer in charge of the costs.
“The situation has become unsustainable – continues the president – this lack of supply of raw materials I do not think is a bubble, it will not end soon and is not only due to too much demand but above all to the lack of supply, combined with a huge increase in cost of all raw materials, packaging, expensive freight rates and expensive containers that penalize our sector ». The finger is focused above all on large-scale distribution: the price compression on the domestic market by large retailers, due to insufficient and late recognition of the higher production costs linked to raw materials and energy, contributes – Federalimentare argues – to outline a trend in contribution margins. of the dangerously declining sector.
The risk, say the companies, is to completely dry up the advantages associated with the restart and expansion phase of GDP and the markets: “It is also desirable – says Vacondio – that action be taken to contain financial speculation in a sector, such as that of food, so ethically delicate ».