Italy

Amazon announced plans to use drones while delivering packages to customers in the United Kingdom and Italy starting next year, with services set to commence at undisclosed locations before the end of 2024. Selected customers will be able to have items weighing up to approximately 2 kilograms delivered to their gardens by a drone.

Amazon is making a fresh start with Amazon Shipping, the shipping service that online retailers can also utilize for orders beyond the platform. The service has been reintroduced in the United Kingdom and is now also accessible to online retailers in France, Italy, and Spain.

From 1 August, Hermes Fulfilment will take over a dispatch center in Valdengo, Northern Italy. The center specialises in the logistical processing of low-volume product ranges. ‘By taking over the site in Valdengo, we can establish ourselves on the European market’, says CEO Kevin Kufs.

The total ecommerce turnover in Italy is estimated to have been worth 75.89 billion euros in 2022. This is a growth of 18.6 percent, when compared to a year earlier. However, most of that growth was caused by price increases.

Fashion retailer Yoox is adding a secondhand category on its marketplace. The pre-owned category is available in nearly 30 European countries. Later this year, the marketplace is planned to launch in the United States and Middle East as well.

Non-food online sales in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain are expected to grow up to 4 percent. This is mostly driven by rising prices due to inflation. At the same time, sales volumes are set to fall up to 5 percent.

Swiss online department store Galaxus has launched in Italy. The company wants to grow a loyal customer base. It is the company’s newest expansion after previous launches in Germany, Austria and France.

Online luxury retailer Yoox Net-A-Porter Group has been fined 5.25 million euros by the Italian antitrust agency. The group is fined over misleading pricing and its return policy. The retailer has already announced plans to appeal against the ruling.

Amazon has filed lawsuits in Italy and Spain in order to stop fake reviews on its platform. It marks the first criminal complaint of the ecommerce giant in Europe. Amazon also sent warnings to five websites in Germany concerning the issue.

Momox, a second hand marketplace for media products, is expanding to Italy and Spain. The company is also planning to launch its fashion segment, now only available in Germany, in more European markets.

Czech fashion search engine Glami is acquiring Stileo, a fashion ecommerce platform operating in Italy. According to the companies, they generate over 500k monthly orders to partnered shops. Together, the platforms aim to grow to 1 million orders a month.

Amazon Fashion Luxury Stores is launching in 5 countries in Europe. The ecommerce giant will offer 8 brands at launch, planning to add more in the future. But the competition for luxury fashion retail in Europe is fierce.

Amazon has received a record fine of 1.13 billion euros by Italian market authority AGCM. The ecommerce giant’s logistics service Fulfilment by Amazon has abused its market dominance and disadvantages competitors too greatly, according to the regulator.

Open-source ecommerce solution has been acquired by MBE (Mail Boxes Etc.) Worldwide, an Italian platform providing shipping and fulfillment. Through the acquisition, MBE will strengthen its position in Europe and Latin America, where most of Prestashop's customers are located.

Meal kit delivery service HelloFresh has launched in Italy. This is the second European expansion this year, after the company set foot in Norway this summer. The service is now active in 9 European countries.