Food & Beverage is a crucial sector of the Italian economy and its evolution, potential, and growth opportunities have been examined and discussed at the Food Summit 2024 held, as every year, in Parma. For the IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division of Intesa Sanpaolo it was an opportunity to confirm its closeness to the sector's companies in a solid and continuous collaboration that grows year after year, in line with the strengthening and innovation of the food farming industrial system which has to face new challenges.
THE COMMITMENT OF INTESA SANPAOLO TO THE ITALIAN ECONOMY
Laura Asperti, Head of Industry Food & Beverage and Distribution, reminded of the decisive role of Intesa Sanpaolo in the Italian system, pointing out that in 2023, loans for 60.4 billion Euro were disbursed, 40% of which to Italian companies of various sizes, of which more than 16,000 are customers operating in the Food & Beverage sector. To support ESG issues, moreover, Intesa Sanpaolo has created a wide range of products and loans linked to Green economy, Sustainability and Ecological Transition indexes, disbursing 47.2 billion Euro from 2021 to the first quarter of 2024 against the total 76 billion Euro envisaged by the NRRP over the five-year period 2021-2026.
INVESTMENT AND M&A IN FOOD & BEVERAGE
The expected reduction in interest rates, the cooling inflation and the desirable upturn in consumption are news that should help the economy to improve during 2024. There is great confidence in the start of a new cycle of investments in Food & Beverage aimed, in particular, at Sustainability, digitalisation and internationalisation of companies that will be increasingly affected by extraordinary finance and M&A transactions, for which the IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division of Intesa Sanpaolo can provide structures, expertise, services and a wide international network.
INVESTORS' INTEREST IN ITALIAN EXCELLENCE
Finally, according to Asperti, the Food & Beverage sector will in the near future increasingly be the focus of attention of investors, specialised and Private Equity funds that want to bet on the excellence, uniqueness and undisputed quality of the Italian production system. Companies should look to the future without fear for the natural generational change, to seize the various development, innovation and internationalisation opportunities.