Italy's chain restaurant sector reaches 9 billion euros

The Italian chain restaurant market has reached a value of 9 billion euros, according to discussions at the Aigrim Day 2026 forum in Milan. While the sector shows continuous growth, industry leaders are facing significant challenges regarding labor retention.

Riccardo Orlandi, president of Aigrim-Fipe, highlighted a structural paradox: while the sector remains a primary entry point for the labor market, it struggles to retain young workers. Approximately 40% of the workforce is under the age of 30, yet many employees leave after only a few months.

The industry is currently grappling with the difficulty of reconciling continuous operational hours and holiday shifts with the younger generation's demand for sustainable schedules and work-life balance. Experts at the forum suggested that addressing these organizational issues through better training and improved scheduling is essential to sustaining the sector's growth.