IFT Food Expo 2010: German Food Industry Tapped to Meet European Demand

Berlin/Chicago (ots) - The German food industry is an unlikely
industry heavyweight. The country's number four industry in total
goods produced accounted for products worth approximately USD 209
billion in 2009 and maintained stable production and sales volumes
throughout the downturn. This results from a strong domestic market
with consumer spending up slightly in 2009 and an export quota above
25 percent. Germany Trade & Invest will have representatives on hand
to present opportunities in Germany's food and beverage industry at
this year's IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo in Chicago, Illinois,
from July 17-20.

Germany's food and beverage industry has benefitted from both
inherent location advantages and industry trends in recent years.
With its location in central Europe and strong logistics base,
Germany's industry has seen a steady increase in exports to, for
example, the most recent European member states (over 30 percent rise
in 2008) and maintains a high average export ratio amounting to 26
percent of sales. Strong exports are also driven by demand for high
quality and safe products as well as competitive prices, a result of
Germany's high productivity rates.

At the same time, the industry benefits from increasing domestic
demand for functional foods as well as health and wellness products,
as consumers - in part Europe's ageing populations - seek to improve
their sense of well-being, health and performance for various
activities. As a result, a number of previously niche market actors
have become significant industry players.

The strength of the industry and steady market demand create
lucrative opportunities for international companies across the entire
supply chain. The industry generated over USD 225 billion in total
food retailing revenue in 2009 and out-of-house sales amounted to USD
88.2 billion. With more than 82 million consumers, Germany is
Europe's largest food and beverage retail market. Innovation and
product localization, industry necessities, benefit from continuously
increasing public and private R&D spending. A remarkable 54 percent
of private R&D spending in the German food and beverage industry is
foreign company derived - underpinning the importance of local R&D to
adapt products to the local market. Local research teams are able to
develop new products according to culinary customs, tastes, and
preferences.

Providing a regular supply of food to a population of 82 million
as well as Germany's European neighbors creates significant
opportunities for the food logistics sector. Companies here can
benefit from the world's number one ranked infrastructure, according
to a World Economic Forum study, as well as a wide range of highly
regarded logistics service providers.

At this year's IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo, representatives
of Germany Trade & Invest will be available to answer questions about
Germany's food and beverage industry. Together with the regional
investment promotion agencies IMG Investment and Marketing
Corporation of Saxony-Anhalt and Invest in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
GmbH, Germany Trade & Invest will be located at booth # 7035. Germany
Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion
agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises
foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the
German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German
companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

Originaltext: Germany Trade and Invest
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Contact:
Germany Trade & Invest
Eva Henkel
Email: eva.henkel@gtai.com
T: +49(0)30 200099-173
F: +49(0)30 200099-111