BOTTEGA (PROSECCO), 'FUELING FUEL PRICES: IF THE GOVERNMENT FAILS TO PROVIDE ANSWERS, OUR INDUSTRY WILL BE DAMAGED'

We estimate it could impact our year-end turnover by 5 to 10%. If the government fails to respond, there could be serious consequences. The cost of agricultural diesel has peaked at €1.65/l (compared to €1.19/l at the beginning of July), while the cost for road transport is around €2.25/l and above. This is an unsustainable surge for agriculture, fishing, and road transport, the backbone of our country, and unfortunately it represents an inevitable driver of inflation." This is how Sandro Bottega, CEO of Bottega Spa , a Veneto-based winery that exports Prosecco to over 150 countries worldwide, comments on the protests by farmers, truck drivers, and fishermen against the high cost of living and fuel prices that are blocking several strategic areas of Calabria, Sicily, Puglia, and Basilicata. The demonstrations, fueled by spontaneous committees and grassroots movements, see hundreds of tractors and trucks occupying streets, squares, and key logistics hubs.
Bottega adds: "The protests, which are entirely understandable, see hundreds of tractors and trucks occupying streets, squares, and key logistics hubs. This certainly generates an immediate media impact, but at the same time, it hinders citizens and workers. The protests should be directed at those who caused the problem, which, truth be told, is not our government, even though the government is responsible for supporting the real economy by leading a tense negotiation process with the oil companies. Furthermore, there is an increasingly pressing need to improve the management of state organizations to better utilize available resources. Finally, in the medium to long term, an effective fight against tax evasion would free up resources to absorb fuel excise duties, which, let's remember, are among the highest in Europe and the world."