The Swiss and European Food Industry
The Food Industry* in Switzerland in 2010
Number of companies 202 Number of employees 36'324 Turnover CHF 18’403 Mio. 100% Inland turnover CHF 15’285 Mio. 83% Export turnover CHF 3’118 Mio 17%
Data orgin: Die Schweizer Lebensmittelindustrie 2010, FIAL, 2010
*without drink companies, feed producers, component suppliers and companies with less than 10 employes
From Farm to Fork - The food chain in Switzerland, BFS Aktuell, 11.2010 (in german)
Food, drinks and tobacco industry, analysis of the export data, Federal Statistical Office 2007, 2008 and 2009
The food and drink industry in the EU - a pillar of the EU economy
· Largest manufacturing sector in the EU in term of turnover and employment terms
· Largest exporter globally, but export market shares on global markets is declining
· Largest importer of F&D products worldwide
· Stable employer and manufacturer (number of EU food and drink companies and number of employees has remained stable since 2005)
· Robust non-cyclical sector, less affected by the economic crisis the other sectors in the EU
· Mature sector operating mainly in a mature markets
· Competitive industry compared to other developed countries but loosing competitiveness against emerging economies
· A highly-regulated business environment in the EU
· Food supply chain: a very fragmented markets for input producers (farmers and F&D companies) and a very concentrated market of large retailers leading to unequal bargaining power
· EU F&D industry purchase and process 70% of EU agricultural production
Some key figures (2009):
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Turnover
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€ 965 billion
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13% of EU manufacturing sector turnover
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Number of employees
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4.4 million
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14% of jobs in EU manufacturing
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Number of companies
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310’000
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More than 99% are SMEs
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SMEs
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48.7% of F&D turnover
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63.0% of F&D employment
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R&D investment
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0.37% of F&D output
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Lower than in most developed countries and lower than other EU industries
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Exports
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€ 58.2 billion
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Imports
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€ 57.8 billion
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Trade surplus
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€ 1.1 billion
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EU is a net exporter of food & drink products
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(Data origin: Data & trends of the European Food and Drink Industry, CIAA, 2009)
Priority areas which are critical for the long-term competitiveness of food and drink manufacturers in the EU according to the CIAA (Confederation of the food and drink industries of the EU):
· Increased levels of R&D investment levels of EU companies
· Improved functioning of the food supply chain in Europe
· Management of the impact of the regulation on business areas such as novel food, trade policy, climate change mitigation
· Maintaining the industry’s export competitiveness
· Ensuring continuous availability of raw materials for the industry
CIAA Competitiveness Report 2010, full report & executive summary
The EU Food & Drink (F&D) Industry in Figures
Data & trends of the European Food and Drink Industry 2009
Facts and Figures: SMEs in the EU Food & Drink Industry
