Global food and beverage retail sales grew 4.9% in 2023 after inflation adjustment, but margins tightened as input costs climbed and weather stressed supply. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 118.1 points and water stressed regions can cut agricultural yields by up to 50%. In parallel, 46% of global consumers bought products based on clean label claims and 19% of manufacturers reported traceability for all products.
Key Takeaways
- 4.9% inflation-adjusted growth in global food and beverage retail sales in 2023, reflecting resilient consumer spending
- $1.4 trillion US food and beverage manufacturing sales in 2022, showing the size of the domestic manufacturing segment
- US$9.3 billion global revenue for the ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee market in 2023, quantifying the RTD submarket
- 6.8% share of global greenhouse gas emissions attributed to food systems in 2020, quantifying climate relevance for the industry
- 41% of US consumers reported purchasing 'better-for-you' products in the past year (2023 retail survey), reflecting mainstream health innovation adoption
- 19% of food and beverage manufacturers reported implementing traceability for all products in 2022 (survey), indicating traction of end-to-end traceability
- 28% of consumers purchased meal kits in the past year in the US (2023 survey), indicating penetration of subscription/kit formats
- 46% of global consumers report that they have bought products based on 'clean label' claims in the past year (2022 survey), indicating label-driven adoption
- 37% of consumers reported buying products with reduced sugar or no sugar added in 2022 (survey), indicating reformulation pull
- Wholesale prices for food manufacturing inputs rose 8.1% year-over-year in 2022 (US PPI for food manufacturing), indicating input cost pressure
- Global food price index averaged 118.1 points in 2023 (FAO Food Price Index), quantifying commodity-linked cost pressure
- Foodservice establishments in the US faced an average 6.1% annual labor cost increase from 2019 to 2022 (BLS quarterly employment cost data), increasing operating costs
- FSMA preventive controls compliance deadlines: most facilities subject to the Preventive Controls for Human Food rule had to be in compliance by September 2017 (final compliance dates), driving process maturity
- EU RASFF notifications for food and feed were 4,774 in 2023 (rapid alert system), indicating regulatory safety monitoring activity
- EU packaging waste recycling target: 55% recycling rate for packaging by 2030 (EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), providing a measurable performance target
With costs and regulations rising, healthier, cleaner, and more traceable choices are driving 2023 growth.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size10 stats
01
4.9% inflation-adjusted growth in global food and beverage retail sales in 2023, reflecting resilient consumer spending
02
$1.4 trillion US food and beverage manufacturing sales in 2022, showing the size of the domestic manufacturing segment
03
US$9.3 billion global revenue for the ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee market in 2023, quantifying the RTD submarket
04
US$382.6 billion global food additives market in 2023, showing the ancillary ingredient market size
05
$240 billion US beverage manufacturing shipments in 2022 (approx. from economic census tables), measuring the beverage segment
06
In the US, food manufacturing employment was about 1.7 million in 2022 (BLS CES), measuring sector labor
07
The global food and beverage packaging market was $330.1 billion in 2023 and is forecast to reach $465.7 billion by 2030.
08
The global bottled water market was valued at $263.7 billion in 2023, according to a market forecast dataset compiled from industry research.
09
The global dairy ingredients market was estimated at $80.9 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $118.5 billion by 2030.
10
The global food traceability market was valued at $3.7 billion in 2023 and is forecast to reach $9.0 billion by 2030.
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The Market Size picture for Food and Drink looks especially strong, with global food and beverage retail sales growing 4.9% in 2023 and the US manufacturing side alone reaching $1.4 trillion in 2022, supported by large submarkets like $9.3 billion in RTD coffee revenue and a $382.6 billion global food additives market in 2023.
02 · Category
Industry Trends3 stats
01
6.8% share of global greenhouse gas emissions attributed to food systems in 2020, quantifying climate relevance for the industry
02
41% of US consumers reported purchasing 'better-for-you' products in the past year (2023 retail survey), reflecting mainstream health innovation adoption
03
19% of food and beverage manufacturers reported implementing traceability for all products in 2022 (survey), indicating traction of end-to-end traceability
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
With food systems responsible for 6.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 alongside consumer momentum toward better-for-you products and only 19% of manufacturers achieving full traceability in 2022, the industry trend is clear that sustainability, health, and supply transparency are becoming the new standard.
03 · Category
User Adoption4 stats
01
28% of consumers purchased meal kits in the past year in the US (2023 survey), indicating penetration of subscription/kit formats
02
46% of global consumers report that they have bought products based on 'clean label' claims in the past year (2022 survey), indicating label-driven adoption
03
37% of consumers reported buying products with reduced sugar or no sugar added in 2022 (survey), indicating reformulation pull
04
45% of retailers offer nutrition or allergen information online (2023 survey), increasing accessible information adoption
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
Across food and drink, user adoption is being driven by measurable consumer uptake of “better choice” options, with 46% of global consumers buying based on clean label claims and 37% choosing reduced or no sugar products in the past year while 28% purchased meal kits in the US and 45% of retailers provide nutrition or allergen info online.
04 · Category
Cost Analysis6 stats
01
Wholesale prices for food manufacturing inputs rose 8.1% year-over-year in 2022 (US PPI for food manufacturing), indicating input cost pressure
02
Global food price index averaged 118.1 points in 2023 (FAO Food Price Index), quantifying commodity-linked cost pressure
03
Foodservice establishments in the US faced an average 6.1% annual labor cost increase from 2019 to 2022 (BLS quarterly employment cost data), increasing operating costs
04
Water scarcity can reduce agricultural yields by up to 50% in water-stressed regions (IPCC), influencing cost and supply volatility
05
Energy costs are the single largest operating cost in many food processing plants; in a 2021 survey, 1 in 3 cited energy as top cost category
06
UK food industry energy bill volatility: natural gas prices increased sharply in 2022; the UK National Grid data shows multi-year spike (annual average gas price index), affecting operating expense
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Cost pressures across the food and drink industry have been intensifying, with wholesale input prices for food manufacturing up 8.1% year over year in 2022 and energy identified as the top operating cost by about 1 in 3 plants in 2021.
05 · Category
Performance Metrics5 stats
01
FSMA preventive controls compliance deadlines: most facilities subject to the Preventive Controls for Human Food rule had to be in compliance by September 2017 (final compliance dates), driving process maturity
02
EU RASFF notifications for food and feed were 4,774 in 2023 (rapid alert system), indicating regulatory safety monitoring activity
03
EU packaging waste recycling target: 55% recycling rate for packaging by 2030 (EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), providing a measurable performance target
04
In the US, FSIS verified 7.4 million establishments/inspections annually (approx. inspection workload), measuring government oversight capacity
05
OEE benchmarks for food processing: typical baseline ranges 50-60% and best-in-class 70-85% (Manufacturing studies), giving measurable equipment effectiveness
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance metrics in Food and Drink show intensive regulatory and operational pressure, with US FSIS conducting about 7.4 million establishment inspections per year and EU food and feed safety alerts reaching 4,774 RASFF notifications in 2023, while efficiency benchmarks for processing typically sit at 50 to 60 percent OEE with best-in-class up to 70 to 85 percent.
More related reading
06 · Category
Environmental Impact3 stats
01
6.0% of global greenhouse-gas emissions were attributable to food systems in 2020, as estimated by a major scientific assessment (includes the full value chain).
02
Agriculture contributes 11% of global greenhouse-gas emissions (direct emissions), according to the IPCC’s most recent assessment.
03
Food and beverage production accounts for 5.4% of global industrial energy use, highlighting major energy demand within industry.
Interpretation
Environmental Impact Interpretation
From an environmental impact standpoint, food systems are responsible for 6.0% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 and agriculture alone adds 11% of direct emissions, while food and beverage production also drives 5.4% of worldwide industrial energy use, showing that climate and energy burdens are tightly linked to how food is produced.
07 · Category
Consumer Demand1 stats
01
In 2023, 35% of consumers in Europe said they had tried a new product in the last month in response to promotions and price offers (consumer panel reporting).
Interpretation
Consumer Demand Interpretation
In 2023, 35% of consumers in Europe said they had tried a new food or drink product in the past month because of promotions and price offers, showing that consumer demand in this category is being directly shaped by promotional incentives.
08 · Category
Operational Performance1 stats
01
Food manufacturing productivity measures improved by about 2.0% in 2022 in the US, reflecting post-pandemic recovery in production efficiency (industry productivity estimate).
Interpretation
Operational Performance Interpretation
In the US, food manufacturing productivity rose about 2.0% in 2022, signaling improving operational performance as the industry continued to recover production efficiency after the pandemic.
09 · Category
Technology & Regulation4 stats
01
As of 2024, the EU’s General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) was adopted and scheduled to apply in stages starting in 2024/2025, affecting compliance planning for food consumer products sold in the EU.
02
As of 2024, the EU’s Regulation (EU) 2023/2414 updated rules for packaging and packaging waste, reinforcing extended producer responsibility requirements for food packaging.
03
The EU’s Food Information to Consumers rules require labeling of allergens for prepacked foods; these requirements are set out in Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.
04
In the US, the FSMA Food Safety Modernization Act established preventive controls requirements under the Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Preventive Controls for Human Food rule (effective compliance timelines set in 21 CFR Part 117).
Interpretation
Technology & Regulation Interpretation
By 2024, major food and drink regulations across the EU and US are tightening technology linked compliance, with the EU’s General Product Safety Regulation and updated packaging rules rolling out in 2024 to 2025 and the US FSMA pushing preventive controls, signaling a clear trend toward more proactive, standardized regulatory oversight in the Technology and Regulation category.
report visual · Comparison
Food & drink: consumer demand, health-led adoption, and traceability traction
Health and value perceptions are widely adopted, while full traceability coverage remains limited.
45% of retailers offer nutrition or allergen information online (2023 survey), increasing accessible information adoptio45%
41% of US consumers reported purchasing 'better-for-you' products in the past year (2023 retail survey), reflecting main
41%
37% of consumers reported buying products with reduced sugar or no sugar added in 2022 (survey), indicating reformulatio
37%
19% of food and beverage manufacturers reported implementing traceability for all products in 2022 (survey), indicating
19%
source-verifiedsnackandbakery.com · iea.org · gs1.org2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Food And Drink Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/food-and-drink-industry-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Food And Drink Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/food-and-drink-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Food And Drink Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/food-and-drink-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
37 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+14 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)