Commercial density expresses the relationship between the total available sales surface area and the inhabitantsa figure strongly influenced by the establishments of large-scale commercial distribution. In the statistics as of June 2023the date on which the Lombardy Region annually defines the survey of retail sales points in fixed locations, the data of Gadesco-Pieve Delmona which, with a total of 15 commercial businesses located, boasts over 35 thousand m2, which means 18,542 m2 for every 1000 residents, over 18 m2 each. With 2 large sales structures, 11 medium-sized sales structures and 2 neighborhood businesses for less than 2 thousand inhabitants, the range of commercial services in Gadesco-Pieve Delmona is unattainable for other Cremonese municipalities.
Even Madignano, which follows at a distance, with 4,462 m2 for every thousand inhabitants, also sees, among the 25 commercial establishments present, a large sales structure as does Bagnolo Cremasco which, to this adds another 30 commercial establishments for an overall commercial density which reaches 3,379 m2 for every 1000 inhabitants.
The case is different Soresina which, with 168 commercial establishments, reaches a very high value of commercial density, 3,034 m2 per 1000 inhabitantsthanks to the presence of 149 neighborhood businesses, with a maximum surface area of 150 m2 and 19 medium-sized sales structures that can occupy surfaces from 150 to 1,500 m2.
In the Province of Cremona, seven other municipalities have high levels of commercial equipment exceeding 2000 m2 for every 1000 inhabitants: Casalmaggiore, with 261 businesses for over 40 thousand m2 of commercial surface area and a commercial density of 2,672 m2 for every 1000 inhabitants, Piadena Drizzona (2,292 m2 for every 1000 inhabitants), Cicognolo (2,261), Cremosano (2,258), Cremoma (2,153), Crema (2,145) and Casteverde (2,102 m2 for every 1000 inhabitants).
Cremona – according to regional census data – boasts a balanced composition of commercial activities with 1,061 neighborhood businesses, 72 medium-sized sales structures and 2 large structuresfor a total commercial area of over 152 thousand m2 which, compared to the almost 71 thousand inhabitants, defines a commercial density of 2,153 m2 for every 1000 inhabitants. The case of is no different Crema which adds 27 medium-sized structures and 463 commercial establishments to the 2 large sales structuresfor a total commercial area of over 72 thousand m2 which, compared to the almost 34 thousand inhabitants, defines a commercial density of 2,145 m2 for every 1000 inhabitants.
In 2023, around fifteen Cremonese municipalities offer a commercial density between 1,918 m2 for every 1000 inhabitants of Formigara and 1,055 of Cella Dati. Below this threshold are the majority of the 113 municipalities in the Province which in 88 cases do not reach 1000 m2 for every 1000 inhabitants or one square meter per person. And it is a significant fact if we consider that in 65 municipalities the 500 m2 for every 1000 inhabitants is not reached, with, among these, 17 municipalities offering a commercial area of less than 100 m2 for every 1000 inhabitants in which the overall number of commercial establishments can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Of course, they are all small towns with only four municipalities that exceed 1000 inhabitants: Chieve, Ricengo, Fiesco and Casaletto Ceredano. Really low levels considering that in six municipalities there is no commercial activity: Campagnola Cremasca, Castel Gabbiano, Casteldidone, Derovere, San Martino del Lago and Voltido.
It is impressive, however, to consider that the commercial surface area located in Gadesco-Pieve Delmona, which boasts over 35 thousand m2, exceeds the cumulative surface area of the seventy or so municipalities poorest in commercial services. Power of large-scale distribution and inconvenience for many citizens who, when they find them, have to deal with small neighborhood businesses.
Elio Montanari – Researcher
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