Global Gourmets

Food and beverage exports have trebled in the last 17 years, from NZ$6.96 billion in 1990 to $21.43 billion in 2008. Food and Beverage exports contribute over 10 percent to expenditure on GDP and represent half of all New Zealand's merchandise exports by value. The industry therefore has a crucial influence on our nation's economy.

The global food and beverage opportunity

The global food and beverage market was worth US$5.7 trillion in 2008. Total consumer spending in the United Kingdom on food, beverages and tobacco was estimated to be US$215.7 billion in 2008 (12 percent of household spending). In the United States, total food, beverage and tobacco consumer spending for 2008 was US$914.7 billion (9.1 percent of total household spending), and in Australia the figure was US$77.2 billion (14 percent of total household spending).

There are several major trends that are changing the way consumers around the world eat. 

The increase in obesity and a greater level of health-consciousness has boosted demand for fresh agricultural products and poultry, whereas demand for dairy products and red meat has declined.

Ready-to-eat foods and meals eaten outside the home account for around one-quarter of total food expenditure, and are becoming more popular. The challenge for food and beverage manufacturers is to combine these two trends into healthy, nutritious but convenient meal solutions.

http://www.nzte.govt.nz/access-international-networks/explore-opportunities-in-growth-industries/growth-industries/pages/food-and-beverage.aspx#global