As the holiday season ramps up,consumers are facing increasingly difficult choices when it comes to traditional treats like panettone. A new report from the Italian consumer advocacy group Altroconsumo assesses twelve popular brands of the Italian sweet bread, revealing a wide range in quality and value despite all tested products meeting basic standards.While no brand earned a top rating, the Coop Classico Panettone was identified as the “Best Buy” in the assessment, offering a balance of quality and price for shoppers navigating crowded supermarket shelves.
Navigating the crowded supermarket shelves for the perfect holiday panettone can be a challenge, but a new report from consumer advocacy group Altroconsumo offers guidance. The organization tested twelve popular brands, finding that while all met minimum quality standards, none achieved top marks, with an average rating of three stars. The Coop Classico Panettone emerged as the “Best Buy” due to its strong value proposition.
Panettone Supermarket Rankings from Altroconsumo
GOOD QUALITY
Coop Classico Panettone – Best in test and Best Buy, Rating: 65, Verdict: good quality, Average Price: €6.09/kg
Giovanni Cova & C Classico Panettone – Rating: 64, Verdict: good quality, Average Price: €13.57/kg
Le Grazie (Esselunga) Classic Recipe Low Panettone – Rating: 63, Verdict: good quality, Average Price: €5.79/kg
Maina Il Gran Nocciolato – Rating: 62, Verdict: good quality, Average Price: €9.01/kg
MEDIUM QUALITY
Bauli Il Panettone Classico – Rating: 58, Verdict: medium quality, Average Price: €7.74/kg
Balocco Il Mandorlato – Rating: 58, Verdict: medium quality, Average Price: €8.87/kg
Il Viaggiator Goloso Panettone – Rating: 57, Verdict: medium quality, Average Price: €10.90/kg
Fiasconaro Traditional Panettone – Rating: 56, Verdict: medium quality, Average Price: €23.40/kg
Motta Traditional Panettone Bruno Barbieri – Rating: 56, Verdict: medium quality, Average Price: €13.01/kg
Tre Marie Milanese Panettone – Rating: 56, Verdict: medium quality, Average Price: €14.67/kg
Duca Moscati (Eurospin) Panettone – Rating: 54, Verdict: medium quality, Average Price: €4.66/kg
Galup Gran Galup Traditional – Rating: 53, Verdict: medium quality, Average Price: €14.22/kg
WHO MAKES THEM
Many supermarket-branded panettoni are produced by established manufacturers. Coop and Le Grazie (Esselunga) panettoni are associated with Maina production. Paluani is the manufacturer behind Duca Moscati (Eurospin) products.
HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD PANETTONE
Altroconsumo advises consumers to carefully review ingredient lists, with the quantity of eggs, butter, and candied fruit being key indicators of quality. While regulations set minimum levels – 4% egg yolk, 16% butter, and 20% fruit – the best products exceed these standards, as demonstrated by Coop and Giovanni Cova & C. regarding egg content. Giovanni Cova & C. and Bauli also stood out in terms of fruit content, reaching approximately 30% and achieving a balanced ratio of raisins and candied fruit.
