From the data of the MPI Observatory of Confartigianato Lombardia it emerges that Lecco is growing more than average and runs on exports
Riva: “Lecco knows how to express quality food craftsmanship and capable of growing, innovating and exporting”
LECCO – Growing numbers for food craftsmanship in Lecco which confirms itself as a dynamic and evolving sector, capable of keeping together territorial roots and openness to markets, in a regional context that continues to drive the national economy of the sector.
According to data from the MPI Observatory of Confartigianato Lombardia, in the month of December families in the province of Lecco spent 95 million euros in food and drink productsand, equal to 0.5% of national spending: a figure that demonstrates the weight of consumption linked to quality production even in smaller territories.
On the production front, they operate in the province of Lecco 312 artisan food, beverage and catering businesses, employing 1,240 people. The sector represents 4.4% of Lecco’s artisan businesses and 6.5% of employees, confirming the structural role of food craftsmanship in the local economy. The data on exports is particularly significant.
In the twelve months considered, Lecco’s exports of food and drinks exceeded 502 million euros, with growth of +22.7% in the first half of 2025, one of the highest variations among the Lombardy provinces (second only to Varese, +35.6%) and well above the national (+5.8%) and regional average (+9.8%) A performance that places Lecco among the most dynamic provinces in the country among those with exports between 400 million and 1 billion euros.
The comparison with the other Lombardy territories highlights an overall very positive picture: Lombardy confirms itself as the first Italian region for the value of food craftsmanship, with a turnover estimated at 5.1 billion euros, equal to 16% of the national total. Provinces such as Milan, Brescia and Bergamo lead in terms of volumes, but places such as Lecco demonstrate how growth can also be driven by smaller but highly specialized production systems. At a qualitative level, Lombardy can count on 34 DOP and IGP products and 273 traditional agri-food products, heritage that enhances the work of artisan businesses and strengthens competitiveness on domestic and foreign markets. The Lecco area is also involved in various recognized quality supply chains, confirming the link between craftsmanship, tradition and local identity.
“These data demonstrate how even a territory like Lecco knows how to express quality food craftsmanship and capable of growing, innovating and exporting – underlines the president of Confartigianato Imprese Lecco, Davide Riva –. Behind the numbers there are businesses, families and skills that every day contribute to creating economic and social value, strengthening the link between production, community and territory”.
According to the president of Confartigianato Lombardia Eugenio Massettithose highlighted by the MPI Observatory’s analysis are numbers that “tell a story Lombardy which, even in December, keeps consumption and production together: on the one hand the strength of family demand, on the other a network of artisan businesses that generates value, employment and economic identity in the territories. And they also tell of the ability to grow on foreign markets, with performances that in 2025 will put Lombardy in the lead among the large exporting regions of the sector”.
