From the earth to the table. Agriculture and animal farming have always played a vital role in Bologna’s economy. Over time, the primary sector in Bologna, which includes over 10,000 businesses, has continued to update itself, evolving in three separate directions: the promotion and protection of typical products; food processing and preservation; promotion of the territory for tourism.
Bologna is renowned worldwide as one of Italy’s cuisine capitals. The territory has 1,500 businesses in the food industry, with a turnover in excess of 4 billion euros and an export value of 230 million. Bolognese businesses specialise in processing and preserving fruit and vegetables,meat processingand dairy-product manufacturing. The 14 PDO and PGI products – includingParmigiano Reggiano, mortadella and tortellini - are the pride and joy of Bolognese gastronomy. The sector is largely made up of cooperatives, some of which, following recent buyovers, have become nationwide leaders and have thus strengthened Bologna’s position in the agro-food industry. There is no shortage of multinational companies, for instance in the coffee sector, as well as mass distribution cooperatives which are gradually extending their networks of points-of-sale beyond the national borders. In terms of distribution, Bologna has the second largest fruit and vegetable market in Italy, the CAAB (Centro Agro Alimentare di Bologna), which distributes over 350,000 tons of produce per annum and offers logistics, selection and quality control services.
Email a friend