Country Reports - Germany

Germany Leads the Food and Beverage Retail Market in Europe

June 2017

Country Reports - Germany

Germany Leads the Food and Beverage Retail Market in Europe

June 2017
National and international companies, operating in almost every sub segment of the German food and beverage market, make more than 170 thousand different food products available to German customers. Highly receptive to new cultural influences and culinary trends, this market offers business opportunities on all fronts. Germany's food industry is not only driven by a commitment to deliver the very best, but also by a desire to actively respond to changing consumer wants and needs. The country stands at the forefront of food and beverage market development as it rises to meet the international challenge of increased demand for safe and healthy foodstuffs. Around 82 million consumers help make Germany the largest food and beverage retail market in Europe. Total food retailing revenue grew by 2.3 percent, reaching USD207.9 billion in 2015. Other important distribution channels include food service sales (USD80 billion) and exports of processed foods (USD60 billion).

Major industry sectors

Germany's food and beverage industry is the third largest industry sector in Germany, generating production value of USD183.5 billion in 2015 and have a promising outlook in the coming years. The industry is best characterized by its small and medium-sized enterprises of more than 5,800 companies employing a workforce around 560,000. The largest industry segments by production value are meat and sausage products (24 percent), dairy products (14 percent), baked goods (10 percent), and confectionery (9 percent). Leading companies include well-known brand names such as Nestl�, Dr. Oetker, Vion Food Group, Tchibo, Coca-Cola, and Mondelez International. Research and development and innovation spending in the German food and beverage industry was expected to reach more than USD4.24 billion in 2016.

Food service

The German food service market is already the second most important distribution channel within the German food industry. An ever-growing share of consumers enjoy eating out-of-home in restaurants, cafes and snack bars. In 2015, food service sales grew by 3.5 percent and reached USD80 billion. All major market segments, including the non-commercial food service (4.5 percent increase) and quick service (3.7 percent increase) sectors - profited from the positive market environment. Casual food service concepts such as "Mediterranean" and "Asian" style as well as "better burger" concepts also enjoy growing popularity.

International Trade

Germanys food and beverage industry is the third largest industry sector in Germany

Today, the country is both the third largest exporter and importer of agricultural and food products worldwide. In 2015, imports of agricultural and food products grew by over six percent to USD81 billion, making Germany a net importer of food and beverage products and thereby the most important European market for foreign producers. Exports of processed foods and agricultural commodities generated USD71 billion in sales. One third of all processed foods manufactured in Germany are exported (79 percent to other EU member states), underpinning Germany's strong location factors in terms of price and quality.

Recent investment projects

Significant investments in the industry include, for example, the investment by the Turkish nut specialist Tadim, establishing a major presence in Emsdetten in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Market outlook

Considering the positive market data for the first half of 2016, industry analysts expected a positive market development for the coming years. Consumers are tending to buy less and less often, but demanding higher quality including organic, fair trade and health & wellness food products. The domestic food and beverage sector has profited from the strong German economy and low unemployment. In addition, regionally sourced or produced foods and growing international demand for food made in Germany will drive market growth.