The Italian food industry represents 2% of GDP and employment. Its role grows considering the whole food supply chain to 3.7% of GDP and 5.7% of employment, reaching 12.5% of the European one. In terms of value added, it reaches 25% of private sector expenditure, at the second places after the house one, but 8 times more than health. The european food industry is the leading sector. Italian industry is at the 3rd place for its value added, at 5th for employment, but the first for productivity together with the French food industry. Critical points of Italian food industry are mainly connected with its structure, production composition, dependence on consumer evolution, crisis impact, internationalization of firms and leading groups, innovation.