Food and drink industry
Finland’s food and drink industry is a well-known force on international markets, especially in the Baltic Sea area. The strength of the Finnish food and drink industry is based on knowing the expectations of customers and consumers. The products are tasty and convenient.
Successful products and trustworthiness are the result of the strong integrity of food and drinks industry professionals. Quality is further guaranteed by innovative product development and advanced production technology. Close and transparent cooperation across the food processing chain ensures a supreme standard of food safety from raw ingredients to the finished products. Corporate social responsibility policies and a commitment to environmental friendliness are the cornerstones of the Finnish food and drink industry that ensure sustainability far into the future.
Finland’s food and drink industry is among the best in the world in the development of functional food products. The best known Finnish health innovations include tooth-friendly xylitol, lactic acid bacteria preparations designed to promote a healthy gut, and products intended for controlling cholesterol.
- The food and drink industry is the fourth biggest industry in Finland after the metal industry, forestry, and the chemical industry.
- The gross production value of the food and drinks industry is EUR 10.2 billion. The value added is EUR 2.4 billion.
- Food and drink industry exports were valued at EUR 1.6 billion in 2011 and imports at EUR 4,0 billion.
- The three largest food and drinks industry sectors – meat processing, dairy farming, and the bakery industry – represent 50% of the industry’s gross production value.
- The food and drink industry employs more than 32 500 people. The number of individual facilities is approximately 1 900.
- Eighty-five percent of all raw ingredients used in the food and drinks industry originate from Finland.
- The Finnish food and drink industry invests more in research and development than most other countries in Europe: 2.6 percent of the production value in 2010.
- The entire food processing chain employs approximately 300 000 people in Finland, which is around 12 percent of the employed workforce.