Take-away food shops up 37% since 2009, report says

(ANSA) - Rome, December 4 - The mix of street-level shops in Italy's urban centres has trended towards prepared food since 2009, with a 37% increase in take-away food shops and a more than 10% decrease in hardware shops, boutiques, bookshops and butcher shops, Censis said Friday.
    Also on the rise over the past six years are restaurants (up 15.5%), coffee bars (+10%), and gelato-pastry shops (+8%).
    The research institute said the increases are due to low start-up costs, foreigners' initiative, and the pervasiveness of food in daily life.