Italy’s retail industry has undergone a profound transformation since the years immediately preceding the Covid-19 pandemic. The country now has significantly fewer stores, but the surviving businesses are generally larger, more productive and better structured.
Discount chains and digital channels are expanding, while traditional neighborhood retailers face growing pressure and many cities risk losing essential commercial services. Between 2018 and 2025, the number of retail locations in Italy declined from 666,479 to 570,313.
