'The italian way of having lunch', 2021
One of the best examples of local supply in rural areas is the Trattoria del Peso in Belvedere Langhe. In the small shop next to the restaurant you can buy the most basic foodstuffs. Of course this also includes cigarettes, truffles and the latest film by Remo Schellino on DVD. Shops like this have a speciality that really makes a difference in situations like today. Without the shops many people would not have known how to provide for themselves. For many places these shops are a lifeline, giving confidence in the local area and social fabric. Although supermarkets and online retailers offer a service that is as necessary as it is impersonal, they are not always accessible to everyone everywhere. This applies to older people living in small villages for example. According to a study, small shops in Italy have declined by 12.1 per cent in the last ten years, a loss of around 200,000 neighbourhood shops – not just grocery shops.