Market overview

Below you will find information about the food and drink market in GERMANY and opportunities for British food and drink companies. Use the links on the left to find out more about the Swiss and Austrian markets.

Opportunities

• There are over 80 million potential customers in Germany. In some areas also niche markets can be promising.
• Retailers often perceive the British retail scene as “trendsetter”. Many have started to trade up in order to differentiate themselves from discounters.
• Private label ranges are developing. Good potential exists in the following product categories: chilled food, health and wellbeing, organic, convenience, ethnic.
  

Market background

• Population: 82.4 million (the largest in Europe)
• GDP: £ 20,043 per head
• Unemployment rate: 7 % (note: still gap between East and West Germany) 
• Consumer Price Inflation: 2.1 %
• Grocery retail sales, net: £ 1,126 per head
  

Trade environment

• Total food and drink imports into the market: £ 35.5 billion
• UK food and drink exports to the market: £ 797.4 million (+ 25.6%)
• UK share of imports: approximately 2%
  

Top five retailers by market share (2007)

1	Edeka	20.9%
2	Rewe	15.4%
3	Schwarz Group	12.3%
4	Aldi	11.8%
5	Metro Group	7.7%