Report II: It\u2019s not just Prosecco: the business of fine dining (and drinking) is performing exceptionally well. With some variations in the North-East<\/p>\n
The most dynamic sector. The agri-food industry takes off<\/p>\n
In its own way \u2013 a way that is surprisingly pleasing to the palate \u2013 it is a minor revolution. Because the North-East, understood as a region with a high density of production, has long been synonymous worldwide with manufacturing, workshops and artisanal workshops unrivalled in terms of work capacity and flexibility. All very true, of course. But today, following a crisis that has left a deep mark, the North-East that is \u2018thriving\u2019 is, above all, a different one: it is still about industry, but it is the industry of eating \u2013 and, above all, drinking \u2013 well. And the agri-food sector is currently the most vibrant sector of all. This adjective is no coincidence: it is wine \u2013 particularly sparkling wine \u2013 that is driving the North-East\u2019s exports and placing the \u2018beverages\u2019 sector at the very top of the economic performance rankings. Not everything, however, revolves around the wine cellar. Food products as a whole are paving the way for the renewed expansion of the North-East, and of the Veneto region in particular (Friuli Venezia Giulia, as we shall see later, is instead suffering from greater stagnation): beers (Antoniana and 32 Via dei Birrai, to name but two), pasta manufacturers (Zara and Sgambaro in the Castelfranco area), and the confectionery sector (Melegatti, the historic brand behind Verona\u2019s pandoro, has just opened a brand-new factory dedicated entirely to croissants). These are just a few examples to illustrate the point: since 2014, our local agri-food sector has experienced a trend towards growth, with an average turnover balance of 9.2, substantial stability in employment levels (74,796) and a net increase in staff numbers of 11.3.<\/p>\n