FIPE is the leader association in the sector of restaurants and catering, in which operate over 230,000 businesses including bars, restaurants, discotheques and bathing establishments employing 750,000 people, with an annual sales revenue exceeding 70,000 billion liras.

At national level, FIPE is a member of CONFCOMMERCIO - "Imprese per l'Italia" - that is the main organization in the tertiary sector (numbering one million member businesses) – in which  it represents the TOURISM SECTOR, together with Federalberghi (hotels), Fiavet (tour operators), Faita (campings) and Rescasa (residences and lodging houses)

At international level, it is a member of the Federation International des Organisations des Hoteliers Restauraters ed Cafetiers (HO.RE.CA.), as well as of the  Association of Italian Restaurateurs operating abroad. In the European context, it belongs to the Confederation des associations de la Communaute Europeenne (Hotrec).

The Association is headed by Lino Enrico Stoppani, who is also Chairman of Confcommercio, and Edi Sommariva is its Director.

The Federation operates in a plurality of fields, which are of great interest for the restaurants and catering sector

TOURISM AREA
It follows the tourism sector, both in legislative and promotional terms.
It maintains professional relations with the other members of the Confcommercio “Tourism Area”. It promotes the implementation of  projects aiming at tourism development, even using structural funds.

LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AREA
In addition to its activity of assistance for local associations and advisory service for businesses over a wide range of issues (management, health, copyright, etc.), it follows parliamentary activities as well as the evolution of legislation concerning the restaurants and catering sector.

TAX CONSULTANCY AREA
It offers an assistance and advisory service, in the various areas of fiscal law.

UNION SERVICES AREA
The most significant activity is the management and development of union relationships, as well as the definition of the collective labour agreement for this sector. Another important activity is the service of assistance as to contracts and social security which the Federation offers to local associations, national unions, and businesses. It maintains relations with institutional organs, it follows the evolution of labour legislation.

ORGANIZATION SERVICES AREA
This area “feels the pulse” of the entire association as well as of the relationships between Fipe and local associations, and between the Federation and national unions. It works out and develops projects aiming at redefining the whole relation system between associations. It promotes the development of the association system.

PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
It maintains relations with media, promoting and organizing congresses about the various aspects concerning the restaurants and catering sector, as well as about other important economical, social and political issues.

STUDY AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
Its task consists in collecting, analysing and diffusing documents concerning this sector, through  notes and surveys. It prepares “on stream” packets for local associations, including those concerning the Tosap, planning (Law n. 287) and illegal exercise.
 

STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION
 
 

Local Organization

20 Regional Unions 108 Local Associations 1.079 Sub-provincial units

Structures of specific categories:
 

ANGEM	Associazione Nazionale Aziende di Ristorazione  Collettiva (National Association of Canteens)
ANAUT	Associazione Nazionale Operatori di Apparecchi e Congegni da intrattenimento abilità e gioco
ANRF	Associazione Nazionale Ristoratori Ferroviari (National Association of Railway Restaurateurs)
ANSEB	Associazione Nazionale Società Emittrici Buoni  Pasto (Italian Association of Meal Tickets Companies)
ASSOCATERING	Associazione nazionale operatori catering
CO.GEL.	Comitato di Coordinamento Esercenti Gelatieri
CO.Na.L.S.	Coordinamento Nazionale Locali Serali
FEDERGIOCO	Associazione tra le Case da gioco italiane  Pasto (Italian Association of Meal Tickets Companies)
SIB	Sindacato Italiano Balneari (Italian Union of Bathing Establishments)
SICEB	Sindacato Italiano Catering e Banqueting (Catering and Banqueting Italian Union)
SILB	Sindacato Italiano Locali da Ballo (Italian Union of Dance Halls)

Others:

• Autogrill
• Gruppo Cremonini
• Mc Donald’s Italia
• Gemeaz Cusin
• My Chef
• Cibis S.p.A.
• Airest
• Agape Italia – Flunch

THE KEY-ROLE OF MODERN SHOPS AND LOCALS

Every day, 30 million consumers (one Italian out of two) enter one of the 230,000 shops and locals operating in Italy: bars, restaurants, discotheques and bathing establishments are the businesses most frequented by resident population as well as by the millions of foreign tourists visiting our country.

These are nationwide diffused shops, 24-hours open, even on Sundays, with a deep sense of service, which are able to successfully meet the needs of consumers who can averagely spend about 191 billion liras, in a day, and even much more, on holidays and summer periods.

In the 110,000 bars and similar shops, every 24 hours, about 25 million people are served, with a 62 billion liras daily sales revenue; in the 80,000 restaurants and pizzerias, over 3,500,000 customers spend 120 billion liras, each day; the 20,000 canteen daily serve 500,000 meals, with 3.2 billion liras receipts. Figures are clear: the market of  restaurants and catering is an outlet for a multiplicity of economic sectors.