The Italian retail sector is integrating sustainability as a strategic lever, driven by CSRD regulations and consumer demand. More than 67% of companies monitor energy consumption and emissions, and 55% of them have established plans for reducing emissions and transitioning to renewable energy.
Thirty-three percent of companies are working to optimize transportation routes, while 17% are introducing electric vehicles. The use of digital technologies and data analysis also helps reduce waste and improve the management of fresh produce. 48% of consumers consider sustainability important, and the same percentage is willing to stop buying products from brands guilty of greenwashing.
Among the companies that have invested most heavily in sustainable growth focused on the well-being of the local community is Alì Supermercati, a leader in the sector in the northeast with 119 stores across Veneto and Emilia Romagna and nearly 5,000 employees. The company recently received approval for a major redevelopment project in Mestre, where it will revitalize the area that once housed the old city hospital and is now in a state of disrepair.
The urban and natural regeneration project focuses on environmental aspects to give residents the opportunity to reclaim a central location in Mestre: the green spaces, designed by internationally renowned landscape architect Nunes, and the bike and pedestrian paths will cover 25,000 square meters, half of the entire area. Plans also include the construction of a playground for children and families and areas designated for community use.
Another major regeneration project involved the company in Padua, specifically in Cadoneghe, where, in the area known as “Ex Grosoli,” Alì has undertaken a massive urban redevelopment project covering 94,000 square meters—an area that, until a few months ago, was in a state of complete disrepair. The project will create a new neighborhood with commercial and residential zones built using green construction methods, while over 50,000 square meters of public spaces—including a playground, green areas, and bike and pedestrian paths—have already been handed over to the community of Cadoneghe.
As mentioned, environmental stewardship is one of the core missions of the company headquartered in Padua.
In 2025, through the WOWnature project, the company created two urban forests in Castelfranco Veneto and Abano Terme, in addition to the Tiny Forests (small urban forests) in Bassano del Grappa. A total of 4,232 plants were planted in these cities.
With its latest projects, the number of urban forests created by Alì over the years in the provinces of Padua, Venice, Treviso, and Vicenza has risen to 14. To date, 54,000 trees have been donated to the local community, a result achieved in part thanks to the collaboration of customers involved in an awareness and responsibility campaign: customers can use their loyalty points to contribute to the creation of green spaces funded by the company’s investment.
Alì was among the first companies to introduce technological innovations to prevent energy loss, such as covering refrigerators with doors. The supermarkets are built using photoactive tiles capable of purifying the air of fine particulate matter. In addition to environmental practices, the retail giant invests in projects for local communities, focusing on education and culture.
Alì recently launched the Alì Francesco Canella Foundation, named after the group’s founder. The Foundation works for the well-being of people and the growth of the community, offering support to children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, while also promoting the cultural and personal growth of young people. It bases its work on a simple yet profound principle: transforming values into concrete acts of closeness, solidarity, and responsibility toward society.