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Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2029)

ISIC 463 March 2024 Spotlight Report

Revenue

€1.7tr

2019-2024 4.4 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Employees

3m

2019-2024 2.3 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Businesses

445k

2019-2024 4.7 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Wages

€XX.Xbn

2019-2024 X.X %
2024-2029 X.X %

Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry analysis

The Food and Beverage Wholesaling revenue is forecast to drop at a compound annual rate of 4.4% over the five years through 2024 to reach a valuation of €1,691.0 billion, including an estimated dip of 3.8%, in 2024, while the average industry profit margin is expected to reach 4.8%. The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected Europe's food and beverage wholesaling industry. There's been a surge in grocery store sales due to a shift towards home cooking but a dip in catering service demand, resulting in higher food prices. Consumers have changed from buying in bulk to smaller packaged items, leading to increased production costs and squeezing wholesaler profit. The European Commission reported a severe 42% drop in the accommodation and food service sector's value in 2020 compared to 2019.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe key trends

The COVID-19 pandemic shifted consumer demands, causing a significant increase in grocery store demand and food prices.

 

Wholesalers faced revenue losses and increased production costs due to smaller packaging requirements and decreased food service demand.

The surge in health consciousness across Europe is fuelling meat substitute products sales.

 

Good Food Institute Europe suggested that over 60% of consumers in France, Spain, Germany and Italy will be urgently seeking plant-based protein alternatives to traditional animal agriculture.

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Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe

Industry Revenue

Total value and annual change from 2011-2029. Includes 5-year outlook.

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Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe market size (2019-2024)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €1.7tr in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic put European food services and wholesalers under pressure

  • In response to the subsequent rise in food prices caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany temporarily reduced the VAT rates on food in 2020 from 7% down to 5% from 1 July to 31 December.

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Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Wholesalers face potential threat as retailers and manufacturers seek cost-cutting alternatives

  • Retailers and manufacturers bypass wholesalers to cut costs, posing a significant threat to the European grocery wholesaling industry in the near future.

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Revenue

€1.7tr

2019-2024 4.4 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Employees

3m

2019-2024 2.3 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Wages

€XX.Xbn

2019-2024 X.X %
2024-2029 X.X %

European Leaders & Laggards

Europe Job Growth CAGR: 2.3 % *
  • Job Growth

Top 5 Countries

  1. Romania +16.0%
  2. Bulgaria +13.9%
  3. Serbia +13.4%
  4. Lithuania +12.7%
  5. Hungary +9.3%

Bottom 5 Countries

  1. Slovenia -1.7%
  2. Sweden -1.5%
  3. Denmark 0.0%
  4. Italy 0.0%
  5. Turkey 0.0%

* CAGR values are for the years 2019-2024.

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Biggest companies in the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Profit (€m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Costco Wholesale
26,749.6
909.5
3.4
Metro AG
33,327.8
499.9
1.5
TransGourmet Holding AG
18,791.3
281.9
1.5

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Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe

Products & Services Segmentation

Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.

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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Food & Drink Wholesaling industry in Europe in 2024?

The market size of the Food & Drink Wholesaling industry in Europe is €1.7tr in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry in 2024?

There are 445k businesses in the Food & Drink Wholesaling industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Food & Drink Wholesaling industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Food & Drink Wholesaling industry in Europe has been declining at a CAGR of 4.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Food & Drink Wholesaling industry in Europe over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Food & Drink Wholesaling industry in Europe is expected to grow.

What does the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe include?

Fruit and vegetables and Meat and meat products are part of the Food & Drink Wholesaling industry.

Which countries have the most businesses in the Food & Drink Wholesaling industry in Europe?

The European country with the most businesses in the Food & Drink Wholesaling industry is Russia.

How competitive is the Food & Drink Wholesaling industry in Europe?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Food & Drink Wholesaling industry in Europe.

Related Industries

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Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Businesses in the industry wholesale a range of food products, including fresh or frozen meat; fresh, frozen or processed vegetables; beverages; dairy products, eggs and oils; tobacco; and baking products and confectionery. This industry also includes prepared meals, bread, dips and condiments, food spreads, savoury snacks, sandwich fillings, tinned goods and processed grain and cereal.

Related Terms

WHOLESALE BYPASS SPECIALISED WHOLESALER COOPERATIVESUPPLY CHAIN

What's included in this industry?

Fruit and vegetablesMeat and meat productsDairy products, eggs and edible oils and fatsBeveragesSugar and chocolate and sugar confectioneryCoffee, tea, cocoa and spices

Companies

Costco WholesaleMetro AGTransGourmet Holding AG

Industry Code

ISIC 2006

463 - Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco in Europe

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Performance

Key Takeaways

The COVID-19 pandemic put European food services and wholesalers under pressure

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Revenue Highlights

Trends
  • Revenue
  • 2024 Revenue Growth
  • Revenue Volatility

Employment Highlights

Trends
  • Employees
  • Employees per Business
  • Revenue per Employee

Business Highlights

Trends
  • Businesses
  • Employees per Business
  • Revenue per Business

Profit Highlights

Trends
  • Total Profit
  • Profit Margin
  • Profit per Business

Current Performance

Charts
  • Revenue in the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Employees in the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Business in the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Profit in the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
Analysis

What's driving current industry performance in the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry?


Outlook

Analysis

What's driving the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry outlook?


Volatility

Analysis

What influences volatility in the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry?

Charts
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix

Life Cycle

Analysis

What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry?

Charts
  • Industry Life Cycle Matrix

Products and Markets

Highlights

Trends
  • Largest Market
  • Product Innovation

Key Takeaways

Rising health and environmental concerns hit meat consumption. The increasing popularity and awareness of plant-based diets and sustainability issues are driving down meat product sales.

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Products and Services

Charts
  • Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis

How are the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry's products and services performing?

Analysis

What are innovations in the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry's products and services?


Major Markets

Charts
  • Major Market Segmentation
Analysis

What influences demand in the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry?


International Trade

Highlights

  • Largest Importer
  • Smallest Importer
  • Total Imports into Europe
  • Largest Exporter
  • Smallest Exporter
  • Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
  • Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
  • Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables

Value and annual change (%) included

  • Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2024)

Geographic Breakdown

Business Locations

Heat maps
  • Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2024)

Industry Geographic Breakdown

Data Tables

Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:

  • Revenue (2024)
  • IVA (2024)
  • Enterprises (2024)
  • Employment (2024)
  • Exports (2024)
  • Imports (2024)

Competitive Forces

Highlights

Trends
  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power

Key Takeaways

Major wholesalers dominate the industry. The industry is made up of numerous major players, including Sucres et Denrees SA, Groupe Lactalis SA and Metro AG.

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Supply Chain

Charts

Buyer and supply industries

Companies

Market Share

Charts
  • Industry Market Share by Company (2019-2024)

Companies

Data Tables

Top 10 companies by market share:

  • Market share (2024)
  • Revenue (2024)
  • Profit (2024)
  • Profit Margin (2024)

Data Tables
  • Countries of operation for Costco Wholesale
  • Countries of operation for Metro AG
  • Countries of operation for TransGourmet Holding AG
  • Countries of operation for Rewe Group
  • Countries of operation for Groupe Lactalis SA
  • Countries of operation for EDEKA ZENTRALE Stiftung & Co KG
  • Countries of operation for Booker Group Ltd
  • Countries of operation for Sucres Et Denrees SA
  • Countries of operation for Gruppo Veronesi SpA
  • Countries of operation for Alvean Sugar SL

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

Wholesalers in the industry must ensure they distribute food free from harmful substances. European wholesalers must adhere to food safety and hygiene legislation like The General Food Law Regulation.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Wholesalers are contending with rising procurement costs because of unprecedented inflation in food manufacturing. The high cost of commodities triggered by inflation and adverse weather conditions increases the purchasing expenses for wholesalers, directly impacting their profit.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Food & Drink Wholesaling in Europe industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and boottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2024)
  • Business Growth (2024)
  • Job Growth (2024)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2024)
  • Imports/Demand (2024)
  • Exports/Revenue (2024)
  • Revenue per Employee (2024)
  • Wages/Revenue (2024)
  • Employees per Establishment (2024)
  • Average Wage (2024)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights. 

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools.

To learn more about specific data sources used by IBISWorld's analysts globally, including how industry data forecasts are produced, visit our Help Center.