The German food sector

The German food industry - that's more than 4.4 million people working in 608,000 companies who ensure that 85 million citizens in Germany and a large number of people around the world can enjoy safe, high-quality food every day.

The food industry, which is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises with numerous family businesses, ensures that 170,000 products are offered at affordable prices. It provides jobs for 9.7 percent of the workforce and consistently invests in the future of the labour market. Every year, the sector gives almost 155,500 apprentices a start in their careers.

Food industry - from the field to the plate

From the field to the plate: the food chain includes all steps from primary production to the consumer. While agriculture extracts the plant and animal raw materials, around 85 percent of these are processed by the food trade and industry into a diverse range of produced foods. The abundance of food produced reaches commercial and private consumers via food wholesalers, food retailers and handicraft businesses. Consumers also find a wide range of products outside the home, e.g. in restaurants and hotels, in hospitals and company canteens.