A 76-million-euro ceiling targeting restaurants, bakeries and ice cream parlors is on the way. This is a non-repayable grant: applications to start March 1, 2024.
A 76 million euro endowment in the form of a grant has been made available to promote innovation and training within restaurants, bakeries and ice cream parlors.
The allocation is divided as follows: 56 million euros earmarked for capital investment in restaurants, ice cream parlors and pastry shops and 20 million euros to finance apprenticeship contracts at the same companies by young graduates under 30.
The non-repayable grant for restaurants, bakeries and ice cream parlors
The aforementioned non-repayable grant provides for a maximum of 30,000 euros per individual enterprise and in any case not more than 70 percent of the total eligible expenses, both for the purchase of machinery and equipment and with regard to the gross salary to be paid to young apprentices.
Managing entity and application submission
Managing the call for applications is Invitalia. Applications can be submitted on a special Invitalia web platform from March 1 through April 30, 2024. Applications will be evaluated following chronological order of arrival, until funds are exhausted.
Non-repayable grants of up to 70 percent (maximum 30,000 euros) are provided for investments or to encourage hiring with apprenticeship contracts.
Beneficiaries of the grant for restaurants, bakeries and ice cream parlors
The beneficiaries of the intervention are enterprises operating in the sectors identified by ATECO codes:
- 56.10.11 “Catering with administration”;
- 56.10.30 “Ice cream and pastry shops;
- 10.71.20 “Production of fresh pastry.”
Eligible and non-eligible expenses
Expenditures related to thepurchase of professional machinery and business assets that are brand new, organic and functional, purchased under normal market conditions from third parties who have no relationship with the enterprise, incurred after the application is submitted, are eligible.
The following expenses are then not allowed:
- Purchase of components, spare parts or parts of machinery, plant and equipment that do not meet the requirement of functional autonomy;
- land and buildings, including masonry work of any kind, including water, electrical, alarm, heating and cooling systems;
- license plate vehicles;
- Used or refurbished goods;
- utilities of any kind, including the supply of electricity, gas, etc;
- taxes and fees;
- Contributions and social charges of any kind;
- meal vouchers;
- legal and notary costs;
- Consulting of any kind;
- Not directly aimed at the activity of the enterprise.
Amount and mode of disbursement of the incentive
The non-repayable catering fund provides for a capital grant not exceeding:
- 70% (seventy percent) of the total eligible expenses;
- To 30,000 (thirty thousand/00) euros per individual enterprise.
For the purpose of disbursement of contributions, the enterprise must submit an appropriate application in accordance with the terms and procedures that will be defined within thirty days from the date of entry into force of the decree.
The request for disbursement must be submitted by the enterprise to the Ministry within 30 days after the date of completion of expenses by attaching the request for disbursement of the facility:
- Copies of electronic invoices for the purchase of professional machinery and capital goods;
- Documentation to prove full traceability of expenses incurred by the enterprise (payment orders and account statements);
- Final technical report describing the investments made and certifying full payment of related expenses.
Disbursement will take place within ninety days of receipt of the request, after Invitalia verifies compliance with the subjective and objective requirements and the completeness and regularity of the documentation submitted.
An advance payment of up to a maximum of 50 percent of the requested grant is provided, subject to the submission by the grantees of a bank or insurance guarantee.
Allowed interventions
For this purpose, expenses incurred after the submission of the application and related to the purchase of professional machinery and business assets are eligible.
The assets must be brand new, purchased under normal market conditions and from third parties who have no relationship with the enterprise, and be maintained on the enterprise’s balance sheet for at least three years from the date the grant is awarded.
Expenses related to the gross remuneration related to the placement in the enterprise, under an apprenticeship contract, of one or more young graduates in food and wine and hospitality services.
Young graduates must meet the following requirements:
- Have graduated from a State Professional Institute for Food and Wine and Hospitality (IPSEOA) with an upper secondary education diploma not more than five years ago;
- Have not attained the age of thirty years at the date of signing the said apprenticeship contract.
Budgeted expenses
The budgeted expenses must be fully incurred within 8 months of the grant award.