Beneath its sun-drenched landscapes, Greece's food industry is a powerhouse of tradition and trade, pouring out everything from globally coveted olive oil and PDO feta to fine wines and honey while feeding a dynamic domestic market and creating a quarter of a million jobs.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Greece produced 240,000 metric tons of olive oil, accounting for 13% of global production
- Greek feta cheese production reached 120,000 tons in 2023, with 75% PDO certified
- Wine production in Greece totaled 2.2 million hectoliters in 2022, led by regions like Nemea and Naoussa
- Greece exported €2.8 billion worth of food products in 2022, with olive oil as top category at €650 million
- Olive oil exports reached 195,000 tons in 2022, 70% to EU markets like Italy and Spain
- Feta cheese exports totaled €250 million in 2023, 55% to Germany and France
- Greece imported €4.5 billion in food products in 2022, mainly grains and meat
- Wheat imports reached 2.8 million tons in 2023, 80% from Russia and Ukraine
- Meat imports totaled 250,000 tons in 2022, beef and poultry dominant
- The Greek food market size was €25 billion in 2023, growing 4.5% YoY
- Per capita food consumption in Greece was €2,300 in 2022, above EU average
- Supermarket sales accounted for 65% of food retail in 2023, €16 billion total
- Food industry employed 250,000 people in 2023, 12% of total workforce
- Food processing sector added €15 billion to GDP in 2022, 7.5% share
- R&D spending in agri-food was €300 million in 2022, 2% of sector revenue
Greece's food industry is a robust exporter of iconic products like olive oil and feta.
Domestic Market
- The Greek food market size was €25 billion in 2023, growing 4.5% YoY
- Per capita food consumption in Greece was €2,300 in 2022, above EU average
- Supermarket sales accounted for 65% of food retail in 2023, €16 billion total
- Organic food sales reached €450 million in 2022, 12% market penetration
- Ready-to-eat meals consumption grew 8% to €1.2 billion in 2023
- Olive oil domestic consumption was 90,000 tons in 2022, 0.8 liters per capita monthly
- Bread and bakery products sales hit €4.5 billion in 2023, 20% of total food spend
- Dairy consumption per capita was 280 kg in 2022, yogurt leading at 25 kg
- Fruit juice market volume was 450 million liters in 2023, orange 40%
- Snack food market reached €800 million in 2022, chips and nuts dominant
- Soft drinks consumption totaled 120 liters per capita in 2023
- Alcoholic beverages retail sales were €3.2 billion in 2023, wine 45%
- Plant-based food market grew to €150 million in 2022, 25% YoY increase
- Canned fish consumption was 18 kg per capita in 2023, sardines leading
- Coffee consumption per capita reached 5.5 kg in 2022, Nespresso growth 15%
- Ice cream sales hit €250 million in summer 2023 season
- Pasta consumption totaled 12 kg per capita in 2022
- Mineral water market volume was 1.2 billion liters in 2023
- Pet food market size reached €400 million in 2022, premium segment 30%
- Functional foods sales grew 12% to €500 million in 2023, probiotics key
- E-commerce food sales were €1.5 billion in 2023, 6% of total retail
Domestic Market Interpretation
Despite their legendary passion for lounging, Greeks are fueling a surprisingly dynamic €25 billion food industry, where supermarket dominance meets a growing appetite for organic, ready-to-eat, and plant-based options, all while remaining steadfastly devoted to their foundational pillars of olive oil, bread, yogurt, and coffee.
Employment and Investment
- Food industry employed 250,000 people in 2023, 12% of total workforce
- Food processing sector added €15 billion to GDP in 2022, 7.5% share
- R&D spending in agri-food was €300 million in 2022, 2% of sector revenue
- 45,000 farms employed in food production chain in 2023, average 5 workers each
- Female employment in food industry was 48% in 2022, higher than national average
- Training programs trained 10,000 workers in food safety in 2023
- FDI in food processing hit €1.2 billion in 2022, mainly from EU
- Average salary in food industry was €1,200 monthly in 2023, 10% above minimum wage
- Automation reduced labor needs by 15% in dairy plants from 2020-2023
- Export-oriented firms employed 120,000 in 2022, 48% of sector jobs
- Youth employment (18-24) in food sector was 25,000 in 2023
- Food manufacturing firms numbered 4,500 in 2023, SMEs 95%
- Agri-food exports supported 180,000 direct and indirect jobs in 2022
- €200 million EU funds invested in food processing upgrades 2021-2023
- Precision agriculture tech adopted by 20% of food producers, saving 15% costs in 2023
- Vocational training enrolled 15,000 in food hygiene courses 2022
- Migrant workers comprised 8% of food harvest labor in 2023
- Sustainability investments in packaging reached €100 million in 2022
- Food delivery platforms employed 50,000 riders in urban areas 2023
- Biotech firms in fermented foods raised €30 million VC in 2023
- Labor productivity in food sector rose 5% to €45,000 per worker in 2022
Employment and Investment Interpretation
While Greece’s food sector is robustly fueling the economy and innovating with impressive speed, its resilience hinges on balancing automation with human capital, as seen in its slightly above-average wages, a nearly equal gender split, and a workforce that’s simultaneously being upskilled and streamlined.
Exports
- Greece exported €2.8 billion worth of food products in 2022, with olive oil as top category at €650 million
- Olive oil exports reached 195,000 tons in 2022, 70% to EU markets like Italy and Spain
- Feta cheese exports totaled €250 million in 2023, 55% to Germany and France
- Wine exports grew to €150 million in 2022, with 60% bottled wines to US and UK
- Yogurt exports amounted to 25,000 tons in 2021, primarily strained variety to North America
- Nuts exports, mainly almonds and walnuts, reached €120 million in 2023
- Fruit preserves and jams exported €80 million in 2022, 40% to Middle East
- Seafood products exports hit €450 million in 2022, with anchovies and sardines leading
- Pasta exports from Greece totaled €60 million in 2023, 30% organic varieties
- Cheese exports excluding feta were €180 million in 2022, graviera and kefalotyri prominent
- Olive oil exports to the US grew 22% to 45,000 tons valued at €180 million in 2022
- Feta PDO exports to EU non-producers were 45,000 tons in 2023, €220 million revenue
- Xinomavro red wine exports hit 12 million bottles to Germany in 2022
- Greek yogurt exports to Canada reached 8,000 tons in 2021, CAD 50 million value
- Hazelnut exports from Greece totaled €25 million to confectionery firms in 2023
- Cherry jam exports to UK post-Brexit were 5,000 tons in 2022
- Frozen seafood exports like prawns hit €120 million to Asia in 2022
- Orzo pasta exports grew 18% to €15 million in Middle East markets 2023
- Halloumi-style cheese exports reached €40 million despite Cyprus origin dispute in 2022
Exports Interpretation
While its gods may have feasted on ambrosia, modern Greece is quietly conquering global pantries, one golden-hued bottle of olive oil, block of briny feta, and tub of creamy yogurt at a time, proving its culinary exports are far more than just a fabled footnote.
Imports
- Greece imported €4.5 billion in food products in 2022, mainly grains and meat
- Wheat imports reached 2.8 million tons in 2023, 80% from Russia and Ukraine
- Meat imports totaled 250,000 tons in 2022, beef and poultry dominant
- Dairy imports were €300 million in 2023, milk powder and butter key items
- Vegetable oils imports hit 150,000 tons in 2022, sunflower oil leading
- Sugar imports amounted to 200,000 tons in 2021, despite domestic beet production
- Processed fruits imports reached €150 million in 2023, tropical fruits prominent
- Fish imports totaled 120,000 tons in 2022, salmon and tuna varieties
- Baby food imports were €50 million in 2023, 70% from EU neighbors
- Confectionery imports hit €200 million in 2022, chocolate products leading
- Wheat grain imports surged to 3.2 million tons in 2023 due to drought, €900 million cost
- Pork imports totaled 180,000 tons in 2022, 60% frozen from Spain
- Cheese imports excluding feta were 15,000 tons in 2023, gouda varieties leading
- Palm oil imports for processing hit 80,000 tons in 2022
- Corn imports reached 1.5 million tons for animal feed in 2023
- Pineapple canned imports were €30 million from Philippines in 2022
- Fresh salmon imports totaled 25,000 tons in 2023, Norway supplier 90%
- Formula milk imports for infants hit €25 million in 2022
- Chocolate bar imports reached 12,000 tons in 2023, Belgium origin dominant
Imports Interpretation
Greece, with its legendary reputation as the cradle of Western gastronomy, has developed a rather modern and ironic habit of importing the building blocks of its own table, from the wheat for its daily bread to the chocolate for its sweet finish.
Production
- In 2022, Greece produced 240,000 metric tons of olive oil, accounting for 13% of global production
- Greek feta cheese production reached 120,000 tons in 2023, with 75% PDO certified
- Wine production in Greece totaled 2.2 million hectoliters in 2022, led by regions like Nemea and Naoussa
- Yogurt production volume hit 150,000 tons in 2021, with Greek strained yogurt comprising 60% of output
- Honey production amounted to 18,500 tons in 2022, making Greece the largest producer in the EU per capita
- Tomato paste production was 45,000 tons in 2023, primarily from Crete and Peloponnese
- Almond production reached 12,000 tons in 2022, up 15% from previous year due to expanded orchards
- Fig production totaled 10,500 tons in 2021, with 80% dried figs from Aegean islands
- Orange production was 850,000 tons in 2022, representing 45% of total citrus output
- Table olive production hit 280,000 tons in 2023, Kalamata variety leading at 40%
- In 2022, Greek olive oil production quality averaged 18% acidity for extra virgin grade across 50 mills
- PDO Kalamata olives yielded 35,000 tons in 2023 harvest, with 92% export quality
- Assyrtiko grape variety produced 450,000 hectoliters of white wine in Santorini 2022
- Strained yogurt output from major producers like Fage was 110,000 tons in 2021
- Thyme honey production in Mount Hymettus reached 2,500 tons in 2022
- Processed tomato output for canning was 1.2 million tons fresh equivalent in 2023
- Pistachio production in Aegina island hit 1,800 tons in 2022, PDO protected
- Raisin production totaled 15,000 tons from Corinth variety in 2021
- Lemon production reached 120,000 tons in Argos region 2022
- Green olive brining capacity processed 150,000 tons in Halkidiki 2023
Production Interpretation
In a nation whose culinary identity could be summed up as 'Mediterranean on tap,' Greece is confidently bottling, brining, and straining its way to global dominance, proving that its food industry is far more than just a supporting actor in the country’s economy.
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