Italy street food sector expands to nearly 2,000 municipalities

Data from the Business Register, processed by Unioncamere and InfoCamere, reveals a significant expansion of the street food sector in Italy over the last decade. As of March 31, 2026, street food activities are present in 1,975 Italian municipalities, a 57% increase from 1,258 municipalities in 2016.

The number of registered businesses has grown by 88.7%, rising from 2,271 in 2016 to 4,286 in 2026. This growth indicates a shift from a phenomenon primarily concentrated in large urban centers and major tourist destinations to a stable component of local economies, including small towns, coastal areas, and inland villages.

Geographically, Lombardy leads with 544 businesses, followed by Sicily (514), Puglia (510), Lazio (371), and Campania (361). In terms of provinces, Milan holds the highest number with 256 businesses, followed by Rome (230), Lecce (192), Turin (170), and Naples (162). The southern regions of Italy account for nearly half of all registered street food enterprises.