Food&Retail and Sustainability Scenario
Research and strategic advisory across the agri-food value chain, from farm to market.
The Italian agri-food value chain generated a turnover of €269.9 billion in 2024 and an added value of €81.6 billion, accounting for 4.2% of national GDP. When indirect impacts are included, the sector activates more than €400 billion in economic value, representing over one-fifth of Italy’s economy. These figures confirm the strategic importance of the agri-food system as a key driver of national competitiveness, at a time when climate change, geopolitical uncertainty and evolving consumer behaviours are reshaping markets worldwide.
The Food&Retail and Sustainability Scenario developed by TEHA Group helps organizations understand these transformations and identify actionable growth opportunities across the entire value chain. We support companies, industry associations and institutions through rigorous analysis, high-level networking platforms and strategic advisory services designed to integrate sustainability and competitiveness into long-term business strategies.
Communities
At the core of our activities are thematic Communities: permanent working platforms that bring together companies, trade associations, public institutions and key stakeholders operating across the Food & Beverage, Specialized Retail, Water, and Wine value chains.
Community members meet regularly to discuss emerging trends, share best practices, co-design initiatives and contribute to the development of annual sector reports and strategic recommendations.
LOCAL SPINOFF
Agrifood&Beverage - Puglia Region
Industry Research and Insights
Through the Food&Retail and Sustainability Scenario, we analyse the major forces shaping the future of the agri-food sector, including market dynamics, consumer trends, technological innovation, and climate change. We turn these insights into practical implications for every stage of the value chain, covering areas such as food & beverage, horeca, sustainable tourism, large-scale retail, agriculture, fisheries and manufacturing industries.
Our findings are published through strategic studies, position papers and infographics, providing companies and institutions with valuable tools to understand and communicate economic, environmental and geopolitical developments.
Exports and the Impact of U.S. Tariffs
The introduction of 15% U.S. tariffs in 2025 resulted in a 4.5% decline in Italian agri-food exports to the United States, a significantly better outcome than previously anticipated by TEHA Group's forecasts. This performance highlights the resilience and competitiveness of premium Italian products even in the presence of trade barriers.
New EU Trade Agreements
In the first quarter of 2026, the European Union concluded four new free-trade agreements with Mercosur, India, Indonesia and Australia, improving market access conditions for Italian agri-food exports and creating opportunities across markets representing more than one billion consumers.
Read about the Observatory on the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement
Water Abundance, Water Scarcity
Climate change is intensifying a growing paradox: while average rainfall levels are decreasing and water stress is affecting more and more regions, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and heavy precipitation are increasing. More data on the water supply chain
Market Intelligence
The Food & Retail and Sustainability practice also supports companies and associations across the food & beverage and retail value chain in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the markets in which they operate, from competitor analysis to consumer insights.
The fragile and uncertain dynamics of international markets, the profound structural transformations taking place across the country, and rapidly evolving lifestyles and consumption patterns require companies to base their decisions on objective and measurable data. These data provide insights that can be translated into action plans. Through our Market Intelligence activities, we develop value-driven activities that generate insights to inform business strategy decisions, drive engagement initiatives and membership campaigns, and support communication and marketing plans.
Services
TEHA Group's advisory approach combines quantitative and qualitative analysis, value chain mapping, international benchmarking and direct stakeholder engagement. Drawing on more than sixty years of experience, we transform strategic insights into operational roadmaps, pilot projects and actionable policy recommendations.
Our Services include
- Scenario impact assessments and identification of critical value-chain challenges
- Comparative intelligence on international policies and best practices, involving global experts and stakeholders
- Tailored studies on strategic topics and sector competitiveness
- Development of operational recommendations and policy priorities
- Advocacy activities and institutional dialogue at both national and European levels
- Exclusive institutional roundtables for Partner companies, workshops, focus groups and executive education initiatives
- Market Intelligence activities aimed at monitoring consumer trends, assessing brand awareness, positioning and reputation, and measuring the satisfaction of existing customers as well as the interest of prospective ones
- Analysis of opportunities related to entering new international markets where the company is not yet present, or expanding the offering through the integration of new product lines.
Journey in Saudi Arabia: Smart Water & Smart Cities
A selected group of experts and representatives of TEHA Group’s business community embarked on a journey in Saudi Arabia that was focused on sustainable water supply management and smart cities: two topics that are being monitored by TEHA through our “Value of Water for Italy Community” and “Smart Building Community”.
Learn more
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Benedetta Brioschi
Partner; Head of Food&Retail and Sustainability