SIAL 2008: Germany Continues to be Europe's Key Food and Beverage Market

Berlin (ots) - Germany's food and beverage industry earned Euro
147 billion in revenue in 2007, making it Europe's largest food and
beverage market. The SIAL trade fair, which runs from October 19-23
in Paris, is this year's most important food-industry event in
Europe. Visitors to SIAL will be able to learn more about Germany as
an excellent investment location at the "Recontre avec l'Allemagne -
Oktoberfest" event; a reception organized by Invest in Germany, the
country's investment promotion agency. The event takes place on
October 20th at 4:30pm at Invest in Germany's booth.

Germany's food and beverage industry encompasses much more than
just beer, sausages and sauerkraut. In fact, it is Germany's fourth
largest industry segment. It is not only the large sub-segments
within the sector that offer vast potential for investors, but also
the emerging niche markets (e.g. organic and functional food) which
are creating avenues of opportunity for investors to succeed. In 2007
for example, organic food sales in Germany grew at a faster rate than
in any other EU country.

Moreover, functional foods are also becoming more popular in the
German market. 2007 revenue hit just over EUR 5 billion, giving
Germany over 10 percent of the world market (examples of functional
foods include probiotic yogurts, yogurt drinks, and vitamin-enhanced
waters). Sales of these products have enjoyed double-digit growth in
recent years, and it is a sector that is proving particularly
attractive to investors as functional food products can command a
price mark-up of up to 100 percent compared to traditional products.

A large and highly diversified market, plus a competitive cost
landscape are just two of the reasons that industry leaders including
Kraft, Nestle, and Danone have invested in Germany.

Invest in Germany is the inward investment promotion agency of the
Federal Republic of Germany. It provides investors with comprehensive
support from site selection to the implementation of investment
decisions. Invest in Germany will be joined at SIAL by the investment
promotion agencies of the eastern German federal states of
Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Invest in Germany can be
found in Hall 1, at Stand 1 E 051 at SIAL.

Originaltext: Invest in Germany
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Media Contact:
Eva Henkel
Invest in Germany
Phone: +49 30 20099-173
Email: henkel@invest-in-germany.com