GITNUXREPORT 2026

Sweden Food Industry Statistics

Sweden's food industry shows strong, sustainable production growth across diverse sectors.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Swedish households spent SEK 85 billion on food in 2022, 12% of total consumption

Statistic 2

Per capita food expenditure SEK 25,000 annually 2022, meat 20% share

Statistic 3

Organic food market value SEK 45 billion, 12% penetration rate

Statistic 4

Milk consumption 180 liters per capita, down 5% YoY

Statistic 5

Bread consumption 45 kg per person annually, rye 30%

Statistic 6

Meat consumption 75 kg/capita, pork 35 kg, poultry rising

Statistic 7

Fish consumption 25 kg per capita, highest in EU

Statistic 8

Fruit intake 80 kg/year, apples 15 kg domestic

Statistic 9

Vegetable consumption 100 kg/capita, potatoes 40 kg

Statistic 10

Soft drinks 100 liters/person, sugar tax impact -10%

Statistic 11

Beer consumption 30 liters pure alcohol equivalent per adult

Statistic 12

Cheese intake 25 kg/capita, highest in Scandinavia

Statistic 13

Yogurt consumption 22 kg/person, probiotic variants 50%

Statistic 14

Ice cream 12 kg/capita annually

Statistic 15

Chocolate confectionery 12 kg/person, dark 40%

Statistic 16

Plant-based milk alternatives 15 liters/capita, oat leading 70%

Statistic 17

Ready meals market SEK 20 billion, frozen 60%

Statistic 18

Coffee consumption 8.5 kg roasted/person, highest globally

Statistic 19

Egg consumption 220 units/capita, 80% free-range

Statistic 20

Pasta consumption 12 kg dry weight/person

Statistic 21

Wine consumption 20 liters/person, imports dominant

Statistic 22

Sugar consumption 35 kg/capita, down 15% decade

Statistic 23

Baby food market SEK 2.5 billion, organic 45%

Statistic 24

Snacks market SEK 15 billion, nuts/seeds 25%

Statistic 25

Functional foods sales SEK 10 billion, vitamins 40%

Statistic 26

Home delivery food orders 1.2 million weekly, growth 25%

Statistic 27

Low-carb products consumption up 30%, bread alternatives

Statistic 28

25% of Swedes vegetarian/vegan flex

Statistic 29

Food waste household level 70 kg/person/year

Statistic 30

Online grocery sales SEK 50 billion 2023, 15% total

Statistic 31

Organic milk share 25% of consumption

Statistic 32

The food industry employed 133,000 people in 2022, representing 2.5% of total workforce with 65% in processing roles

Statistic 33

Dairy sector jobs totaled 28,000 in 2022, 40% women, average wage SEK 42,000/month

Statistic 34

Bakery industry employed 22,000 workers, 25% apprenticeships, turnover SEK 45 billion

Statistic 35

Meat processing firms had 18,500 employees in 2022, automation reducing 5% YoY

Statistic 36

Agricultural labor force 85,000 full-time equivalents, 20% seasonal migrants

Statistic 37

Food retail sector jobs 110,000, part-time 55%

Statistic 38

Fisheries employment 2,500 direct jobs, 70% coastal areas

Statistic 39

Organic food production jobs 15,000, growth 8% since 2020

Statistic 40

Beverage industry workforce 12,000, 30% in brewing

Statistic 41

Food R&D staff 5,200 in 2022, 60% university educated

Statistic 42

Wholesale food distribution employed 25,000, logistics 50%

Statistic 43

Packaging industry for food 8,000 jobs, paper-based 60%

Statistic 44

Aquaculture employment 1,200, 80% skilled technicians

Statistic 45

Confectionery manufacturing 4,500 workers, seasonal peaks 20%

Statistic 46

Fruit and vegetable processing 6,000 employees, 40% women

Statistic 47

Restaurant and catering food service 180,000 jobs, 15% growth post-COVID

Statistic 48

Food safety inspectors 1,500 nationwide

Statistic 49

Grain milling sector 2,800 jobs, automation 30%

Statistic 50

Seafood processing 3,200 employees, 50% part-time

Statistic 51

Food tech startups employed 2,000 in 2023, VC funded 70%

Statistic 52

Supermarket chains food divisions 75,000 staff, unionized 90%

Statistic 53

Dairy farm workers 12,000, robot milking 65% farms

Statistic 54

Poultry farming labor 4,500, biosecurity training 100%

Statistic 55

Breweries micro-scale 1,200 jobs, craft boom

Statistic 56

Food export logistics 10,000 specialized roles

Statistic 57

Vegan product developers 800, growth sector

Statistic 58

Sweden exported food products worth SEK 190 billion in 2022, 12% growth YoY, dairy 35% share

Statistic 59

Dairy exports to EU totaled SEK 65 billion in 2022, cheese SEK 25 billion

Statistic 60

Meat exports reached SEK 18 billion, 80% to EU, pork dominant

Statistic 61

Berry exports 75,000 tons fresh/frozen, 60% lingon/cloudberry to Asia, SEK 5.2 billion

Statistic 62

Fish and seafood exports SEK 22 billion, 70% herring/salmon to Netherlands/Germany

Statistic 63

Organic food exports SEK 12 billion in 2022, 20% of total food exports

Statistic 64

Beer exports 50 million liters, 40% craft to US, SEK 1.8 billion

Statistic 65

Processed oats exports 400,000 tons, 75% to Europe

Statistic 66

Food imports totaled SEK 140 billion in 2022, fruits/vegetables 30%

Statistic 67

Coffee imports 80,000 tons annually, 90% roasted, from Brazil/Ethiopia

Statistic 68

Soy imports for feed 500,000 tons, 95% GMO-free policy

Statistic 69

Wine imports SEK 8 billion, 70% EU origin

Statistic 70

Bananas top import fruit 120,000 tons/year, Ecuador source 60%

Statistic 71

Poultry meat imports 25,000 tons, Brazil/Thailand 50%

Statistic 72

Chocolate imports SEK 4.5 billion, Switzerland 25%

Statistic 73

Vegetable oils imports 150,000 tons palm oil restricted

Statistic 74

Citrus fruits imports 200,000 tons, Spain/Morocco 80%

Statistic 75

Pasta imports 50,000 tons durum wheat based, Italy 60%

Statistic 76

Canned tomatoes imports 30,000 tons, Netherlands dominant

Statistic 77

Spices imports SEK 2 billion, India/China top suppliers

Statistic 78

Infant formula imports SEK 1.2 billion, Nestle 40% share

Statistic 79

Salmon imports 15,000 tons despite domestic production, Norway 90%

Statistic 80

Grain imports 1.2 million tons wheat, Ukraine pre-war 30%

Statistic 81

Sugar imports 100,000 tons refined, EU quota

Statistic 82

Nuts imports 25,000 tons almonds dominant, US 50%

Statistic 83

In 2022, Sweden's total milk production reached 3.27 million metric tons, a 1.2% increase from 2021, primarily from 5,700 dairy farms averaging 570 cows per farm

Statistic 84

Sweden produced 1.45 million tons of wheat in 2023 harvest season, accounting for 45% of total grain output with yield of 6.8 tons per hectare

Statistic 85

Pork production in Sweden totaled 192,000 tons in 2022, with 1,200 pig farms contributing, average slaughter weight 85kg per pig

Statistic 86

Sweden's beef production was 142,000 tons carcass weight in 2022, from 7,500 suckler cows herds, up 2% YoY

Statistic 87

Egg production hit 90,000 tons in 2022 from 1,100 laying hen farms, with 95% cage-free systems

Statistic 88

Sweden harvested 850,000 tons of barley in 2023, yield 6.2 t/ha, used 60% for feed and 30% malting

Statistic 89

Potato production reached 620,000 tons in 2022, 70% for food processing, from 1,200 ha under cultivation

Statistic 90

Greenhouse vegetable production totaled 45,000 tons annually, tomatoes leading at 22,000 tons from 250 ha

Statistic 91

Organic production covered 20.3% of arable land in 2022, equating to 580,000 hectares

Statistic 92

Sugar beet production was 3.8 million tons in 2022, yield 65 t/ha from 25,000 ha

Statistic 93

Rapeseed output hit 1.2 million tons in 2023, 55% of oilseed total, yield 3.5 t/ha

Statistic 94

Apple production totaled 28,000 tons in 2022 from 1,200 ha orchards, 40% exported

Statistic 95

Cheese production reached 135,000 tons in 2022, 70% from cooperatives like Arla

Statistic 96

Bread production volume was 450,000 tons annually, with rye bread 25% share

Statistic 97

Fish farming produced 18,000 tons of rainbow trout in 2022, 90% in freshwater

Statistic 98

Processed meat products output 250,000 tons in 2022, sausages 40%

Statistic 99

Dairy exports processing capacity handled 2.1 million tons milk equivalent

Statistic 100

Vegetable oil production from rapeseed was 450,000 tons in 2022

Statistic 101

Honey production totaled 3,500 tons from 80,000 beehives in 2022

Statistic 102

Frozen berries processing reached 120,000 tons, lingonberries 35%

Statistic 103

Yogurt production was 180,000 tons in 2022, 60% low-fat variants

Statistic 104

Oat production 1.8 million tons in 2023, 70% for human consumption

Statistic 105

Poultry meat production 95,000 tons in 2022, broilers 85%

Statistic 106

Butter output 38,000 tons, 50% organic share growth

Statistic 107

Beer production volume 450 million liters in 2022, craft 15%

Statistic 108

Canned fish products 25,000 tons annually, herring dominant

Statistic 109

Ice cream sales production 55,000 tons, summer peak 60%

Statistic 110

Soft drink production 1.2 billion liters, sugar-free 40%

Statistic 111

Baby food production 12,000 tons, organic 55%

Statistic 112

Sweden's food industry GHG emissions reduced 20% since 1990 to 5.2 Mt CO2eq in 2022

Statistic 113

Organic farmland 620,000 ha in 2023, 22% total arable

Statistic 114

Food waste in industry 15% of total, initiatives reduced 10% 2020-2023

Statistic 115

Renewable energy in food processing 65%, biogas from waste 30%

Statistic 116

Water usage in dairy 1.2 liters per liter milk, recycled 40%

Statistic 117

Packaging recycling rate 85% for food cartons

Statistic 118

Antibiotic use in livestock 10 mg/kg biomass, lowest EU

Statistic 119

Plant-based innovation 200 new products 2023, oat protein 50%

Statistic 120

Carbon footprint milk 1.1 kg CO2/liter average, organic higher 1.3

Statistic 121

Biodiversity farms 30% hedgerows restored since 2015

Statistic 122

Precision farming tech 45% large farms, yield +15%

Statistic 123

Sustainable seafood certification MSC 75% catches

Statistic 124

Fertilizer use 90 kg N/ha, 20% organic manure

Statistic 125

Food R&D investment SEK 4 billion, 40% sustainability focused

Statistic 126

Methane capture dairy farms 200 units, 25% reduction

Statistic 127

Zero-waste factories 50 major plants certified

Statistic 128

Insect protein pilots 5,000 tons capacity planned

Statistic 129

Solar panels food industry 120 MW installed 2023

Statistic 130

GMO-free policy 100% compliance food chain

Statistic 131

Local sourcing restaurants 60%, carbon miles -30%

Statistic 132

Lab-grown meat research funding SEK 100 million

Statistic 133

Soil health programs 80% farms soil tested annually

Statistic 134

Energy efficiency processing +25% since 2010

Statistic 135

Vegan certification labels 500 products

Statistic 136

River restoration agri impact 1,200 km cleaned

Statistic 137

Blockchain traceability 70% meat supply chain

Statistic 138

Wind power farms near processing 50 MW dedicated

Statistic 139

Regenerative agriculture 10% farms adopted, sequestration +0.5 tC/ha

Statistic 140

Plastic reduction packaging 40% since 2018

Statistic 141

Allergy-friendly innovations 300 new products low-allergen

Statistic 142

Circular economy food waste to feed 50,000 tons recycled

1/142

Sources

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Beyond the staggering 3.27 million metric tons of milk and fields of golden wheat lies a dynamic food industry where sustainability meets innovation, as evidenced by Sweden's impressive reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 20% since 1990 alongside a booming SEK 45 billion organic market.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, Sweden's total milk production reached 3.27 million metric tons, a 1.2% increase from 2021, primarily from 5,700 dairy farms averaging 570 cows per farm
Sweden produced 1.45 million tons of wheat in 2023 harvest season, accounting for 45% of total grain output with yield of 6.8 tons per hectare
Pork production in Sweden totaled 192,000 tons in 2022, with 1,200 pig farms contributing, average slaughter weight 85kg per pig
The food industry employed 133,000 people in 2022, representing 2.5% of total workforce with 65% in processing roles
Dairy sector jobs totaled 28,000 in 2022, 40% women, average wage SEK 42,000/month
Bakery industry employed 22,000 workers, 25% apprenticeships, turnover SEK 45 billion
Sweden exported food products worth SEK 190 billion in 2022, 12% growth YoY, dairy 35% share
Dairy exports to EU totaled SEK 65 billion in 2022, cheese SEK 25 billion
Meat exports reached SEK 18 billion, 80% to EU, pork dominant
Swedish households spent SEK 85 billion on food in 2022, 12% of total consumption
Per capita food expenditure SEK 25,000 annually 2022, meat 20% share
Organic food market value SEK 45 billion, 12% penetration rate
Sweden's food industry GHG emissions reduced 20% since 1990 to 5.2 Mt CO2eq in 2022
Organic farmland 620,000 ha in 2023, 22% total arable
Food waste in industry 15% of total, initiatives reduced 10% 2020-2023

Sweden's food industry shows strong, sustainable production growth across diverse sectors.

Consumption and Market

Swedish households spent SEK 85 billion on food in 2022, 12% of total consumption
Per capita food expenditure SEK 25,000 annually 2022, meat 20% share
Organic food market value SEK 45 billion, 12% penetration rate
Milk consumption 180 liters per capita, down 5% YoY
Bread consumption 45 kg per person annually, rye 30%
Meat consumption 75 kg/capita, pork 35 kg, poultry rising
Fish consumption 25 kg per capita, highest in EU
Fruit intake 80 kg/year, apples 15 kg domestic
Vegetable consumption 100 kg/capita, potatoes 40 kg
Soft drinks 100 liters/person, sugar tax impact -10%
Beer consumption 30 liters pure alcohol equivalent per adult
Cheese intake 25 kg/capita, highest in Scandinavia
Yogurt consumption 22 kg/person, probiotic variants 50%
Ice cream 12 kg/capita annually
Chocolate confectionery 12 kg/person, dark 40%
Plant-based milk alternatives 15 liters/capita, oat leading 70%
Ready meals market SEK 20 billion, frozen 60%
Coffee consumption 8.5 kg roasted/person, highest globally
Egg consumption 220 units/capita, 80% free-range
Pasta consumption 12 kg dry weight/person
Wine consumption 20 liters/person, imports dominant
Sugar consumption 35 kg/capita, down 15% decade
Baby food market SEK 2.5 billion, organic 45%
Snacks market SEK 15 billion, nuts/seeds 25%
Functional foods sales SEK 10 billion, vitamins 40%
Home delivery food orders 1.2 million weekly, growth 25%
Low-carb products consumption up 30%, bread alternatives
25% of Swedes vegetarian/vegan flex
Food waste household level 70 kg/person/year
Online grocery sales SEK 50 billion 2023, 15% total
Organic milk share 25% of consumption

Consumption and Market Interpretation

The statistics paint a portrait of a nation that drinks coffee like water, eats cheese like champions, and carefully balances its love for high-quality meat and fish with a growing conscience for organics, plant-based alternatives, and reducing sugar, all while somehow still finding room for impressive amounts of chocolate and ice cream.

Employment and Workforce

The food industry employed 133,000 people in 2022, representing 2.5% of total workforce with 65% in processing roles
Dairy sector jobs totaled 28,000 in 2022, 40% women, average wage SEK 42,000/month
Bakery industry employed 22,000 workers, 25% apprenticeships, turnover SEK 45 billion
Meat processing firms had 18,500 employees in 2022, automation reducing 5% YoY
Agricultural labor force 85,000 full-time equivalents, 20% seasonal migrants
Food retail sector jobs 110,000, part-time 55%
Fisheries employment 2,500 direct jobs, 70% coastal areas
Organic food production jobs 15,000, growth 8% since 2020
Beverage industry workforce 12,000, 30% in brewing
Food R&D staff 5,200 in 2022, 60% university educated
Wholesale food distribution employed 25,000, logistics 50%
Packaging industry for food 8,000 jobs, paper-based 60%
Aquaculture employment 1,200, 80% skilled technicians
Confectionery manufacturing 4,500 workers, seasonal peaks 20%
Fruit and vegetable processing 6,000 employees, 40% women
Restaurant and catering food service 180,000 jobs, 15% growth post-COVID
Food safety inspectors 1,500 nationwide
Grain milling sector 2,800 jobs, automation 30%
Seafood processing 3,200 employees, 50% part-time
Food tech startups employed 2,000 in 2023, VC funded 70%
Supermarket chains food divisions 75,000 staff, unionized 90%
Dairy farm workers 12,000, robot milking 65% farms
Poultry farming labor 4,500, biosecurity training 100%
Breweries micro-scale 1,200 jobs, craft boom
Food export logistics 10,000 specialized roles
Vegan product developers 800, growth sector

Employment and Workforce Interpretation

Sweden's food industry is a deceptively complex ecosystem where half a million people from dairy farmers to vegan innovators, pie bakers to robot milkers, keep the nation fed while wrestling with automation, seasonality, and the eternal quest for the perfect craft brew.

Exports and Imports

Sweden exported food products worth SEK 190 billion in 2022, 12% growth YoY, dairy 35% share
Dairy exports to EU totaled SEK 65 billion in 2022, cheese SEK 25 billion
Meat exports reached SEK 18 billion, 80% to EU, pork dominant
Berry exports 75,000 tons fresh/frozen, 60% lingon/cloudberry to Asia, SEK 5.2 billion
Fish and seafood exports SEK 22 billion, 70% herring/salmon to Netherlands/Germany
Organic food exports SEK 12 billion in 2022, 20% of total food exports
Beer exports 50 million liters, 40% craft to US, SEK 1.8 billion
Processed oats exports 400,000 tons, 75% to Europe
Food imports totaled SEK 140 billion in 2022, fruits/vegetables 30%
Coffee imports 80,000 tons annually, 90% roasted, from Brazil/Ethiopia
Soy imports for feed 500,000 tons, 95% GMO-free policy
Wine imports SEK 8 billion, 70% EU origin
Bananas top import fruit 120,000 tons/year, Ecuador source 60%
Poultry meat imports 25,000 tons, Brazil/Thailand 50%
Chocolate imports SEK 4.5 billion, Switzerland 25%
Vegetable oils imports 150,000 tons palm oil restricted
Citrus fruits imports 200,000 tons, Spain/Morocco 80%
Pasta imports 50,000 tons durum wheat based, Italy 60%
Canned tomatoes imports 30,000 tons, Netherlands dominant
Spices imports SEK 2 billion, India/China top suppliers
Infant formula imports SEK 1.2 billion, Nestle 40% share
Salmon imports 15,000 tons despite domestic production, Norway 90%
Grain imports 1.2 million tons wheat, Ukraine pre-war 30%
Sugar imports 100,000 tons refined, EU quota
Nuts imports 25,000 tons almonds dominant, US 50%

Exports and Imports Interpretation

Sweden's 2022 food industry paints a picture of a pragmatic gourmet, shrewdly trading mountains of its own cheese and berries for floods of coffee, sunshine fruits, and strategic salmon, all while carefully navigating a plate of global politics and GMO-free principles.

Production and Output

In 2022, Sweden's total milk production reached 3.27 million metric tons, a 1.2% increase from 2021, primarily from 5,700 dairy farms averaging 570 cows per farm
Sweden produced 1.45 million tons of wheat in 2023 harvest season, accounting for 45% of total grain output with yield of 6.8 tons per hectare
Pork production in Sweden totaled 192,000 tons in 2022, with 1,200 pig farms contributing, average slaughter weight 85kg per pig
Sweden's beef production was 142,000 tons carcass weight in 2022, from 7,500 suckler cows herds, up 2% YoY
Egg production hit 90,000 tons in 2022 from 1,100 laying hen farms, with 95% cage-free systems
Sweden harvested 850,000 tons of barley in 2023, yield 6.2 t/ha, used 60% for feed and 30% malting
Potato production reached 620,000 tons in 2022, 70% for food processing, from 1,200 ha under cultivation
Greenhouse vegetable production totaled 45,000 tons annually, tomatoes leading at 22,000 tons from 250 ha
Organic production covered 20.3% of arable land in 2022, equating to 580,000 hectares
Sugar beet production was 3.8 million tons in 2022, yield 65 t/ha from 25,000 ha
Rapeseed output hit 1.2 million tons in 2023, 55% of oilseed total, yield 3.5 t/ha
Apple production totaled 28,000 tons in 2022 from 1,200 ha orchards, 40% exported
Cheese production reached 135,000 tons in 2022, 70% from cooperatives like Arla
Bread production volume was 450,000 tons annually, with rye bread 25% share
Fish farming produced 18,000 tons of rainbow trout in 2022, 90% in freshwater
Processed meat products output 250,000 tons in 2022, sausages 40%
Dairy exports processing capacity handled 2.1 million tons milk equivalent
Vegetable oil production from rapeseed was 450,000 tons in 2022
Honey production totaled 3,500 tons from 80,000 beehives in 2022
Frozen berries processing reached 120,000 tons, lingonberries 35%
Yogurt production was 180,000 tons in 2022, 60% low-fat variants
Oat production 1.8 million tons in 2023, 70% for human consumption
Poultry meat production 95,000 tons in 2022, broilers 85%
Butter output 38,000 tons, 50% organic share growth
Beer production volume 450 million liters in 2022, craft 15%
Canned fish products 25,000 tons annually, herring dominant
Ice cream sales production 55,000 tons, summer peak 60%
Soft drink production 1.2 billion liters, sugar-free 40%
Baby food production 12,000 tons, organic 55%

Production and Output Interpretation

Sweden's food industry is a masterclass in Nordic efficiency, where a modest number of large, high-yield farms and a deeply cooperative spirit produce a remarkably diverse, sustainable, and export-ready bounty, all while steadily swapping conventional methods for organic and cage-free ones.

Sustainability and Innovation

Sweden's food industry GHG emissions reduced 20% since 1990 to 5.2 Mt CO2eq in 2022
Organic farmland 620,000 ha in 2023, 22% total arable
Food waste in industry 15% of total, initiatives reduced 10% 2020-2023
Renewable energy in food processing 65%, biogas from waste 30%
Water usage in dairy 1.2 liters per liter milk, recycled 40%
Packaging recycling rate 85% for food cartons
Antibiotic use in livestock 10 mg/kg biomass, lowest EU
Plant-based innovation 200 new products 2023, oat protein 50%
Carbon footprint milk 1.1 kg CO2/liter average, organic higher 1.3
Biodiversity farms 30% hedgerows restored since 2015
Precision farming tech 45% large farms, yield +15%
Sustainable seafood certification MSC 75% catches
Fertilizer use 90 kg N/ha, 20% organic manure
Food R&D investment SEK 4 billion, 40% sustainability focused
Methane capture dairy farms 200 units, 25% reduction
Zero-waste factories 50 major plants certified
Insect protein pilots 5,000 tons capacity planned
Solar panels food industry 120 MW installed 2023
GMO-free policy 100% compliance food chain
Local sourcing restaurants 60%, carbon miles -30%
Lab-grown meat research funding SEK 100 million
Soil health programs 80% farms soil tested annually
Energy efficiency processing +25% since 2010
Vegan certification labels 500 products
River restoration agri impact 1,200 km cleaned
Blockchain traceability 70% meat supply chain
Wind power farms near processing 50 MW dedicated
Regenerative agriculture 10% farms adopted, sequestration +0.5 tC/ha
Plastic reduction packaging 40% since 2018
Allergy-friendly innovations 300 new products low-allergen
Circular economy food waste to feed 50,000 tons recycled

Sustainability and Innovation Interpretation

Sweden’s food sector appears to be conducting a masterclass in conscientious capitalism, dramatically cutting emissions and waste while embracing everything from organic oats to cow-fart capture, yet still wrestling with the stubborn carbon cost of its organic milk and the sheer ambition of getting us to eat bugs.

Sources & References

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