Italian food group Barilla recorded an increase in first-half revenues, despite sales falling in its domestic market.

In the first six months of the year, sales were up 4%, Barilla president Paolo Barilla revealed at a conference in Rome yesterday (11 July). Last year turnover amounted to EUR3.9bn (US$5.1bn).

In its home market, sales dropped 1%. Barilla said: “Consumption just isn’t there, we are in a totally recessive trend [in Italy].”

Barilla did, however, record double-digit growth in Germany and France. Positive trends were also recorded in the US, the president noted.