Food industry
The surrounding agricultural regions and the more than six million consumers in the metropolitan area provide a solid foundation for growth in the food and beverage sector.
The agriculture and food industry is an important economic factor for the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region. In comparison to other federal states, organic farming is of above-average importance in Brandenburg.
The food industry accounts for about 10% of all employment in the manufacturing sector. Berlin is focused on:
- production of coffee,
- confectionery and baked goods,
- fruit and vegetable processing,
- the beverage industry as well as on
- meat processing.
Nationally and internationally known brands such as Bahlsen, Cargill, Coca-Cola, Freiberger, Kühne, Radeberger Gruppe, Storck and Stollwerck already benefit from the ideal environment Berlin offers. Sawade is the oldest chocolate factory in Berlin. A company like Fassbender & Rausch has become the largest chocolate producer in the world.
In recent years, Berlin has also grown into the creative beer capital. The art of brewing is cultivated at many locations. Under the heading Handcrafted, numerous microbreweries produce their own craft beer, for example the founders of BRLO and Thorsten Schoppe Bräu. On the former gasworks site in Mariendorf, the Scottish brewery Brew Dog operates the craft beer temple and has opened the world’s first CO2-negative brewery.
The food industry particularly benefits from the more than 240 biotech companies located in the region. Common goals include tapping biogenic raw materials for industrial production, making production processes more sustainable and improving competitiveness. Practical applications from biotechnology include probiotic bacteria that protect against disease or prebiotics that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. For example, in the case of food supplements, new strains of bacteria with extraordinary abilities are being sought or new ways of using algae are being developed.
Food tech
Berlin is continuously developing into a center for the food tech scene in Germany. The food market is changing rapidly, particularly in the area of plant-based, cell-based and precision-fermented foods. New value creation potential and technical solutions are emerging in areas such as personalized nutrition and sustainable and healthy products.
KitchenTown is an incubator and accelerator for food and food-tech startups. In a flexible production facility, founders can develop their product ideas, test them and bring them to market. Supplemented by the necessary industry knowledge, Kitchentown offers startups access to all relevant topics for scaling the product idea - all under one roof.
Why Berlin?
„Berlin is the largest market for vegan products in Germany – so our location in Kreuzberg allows us to experience the market up close and develop a deep understanding of consumers. The international city also attracts top talent and brings us together with investors and political stakeholders.“
Foto: ©Project Eaden
Why Berlin?
„Berlin is the ideal breeding ground for Berlin Food Week because it is here that innovative spirit and entrepreneurship meet an existing food ecosystem and an understanding of the importance of sustainability and food culture. Collaborations between industry, science and public institutions are advancing the food transition – and we are doing our part by communicating it to consumers in a tangible, non-dogmatic and enjoyable way.“
Why Berlin?
„Berlin is not just the “Home city” of our institute, Berlin is also a hotspot for innovation, and: Berlin eats innovatively! – As in many major cities around the world, ideas are born and trends are developed here. Startups are springing up like mushrooms, especially in the food industry, and they need an optimum climate for growth. This includes strong networks such as Berlin Partner, but also competent research partners. With an optimally equipped technical center, extensive know-how and a lot of enthusiasm, we support especially small and young companies in the development of trendy and healthy products.“
Further major projects with a focus on the food industry are in development. For example, the company ArtProjekt is planning a new FoodCampus Berlin, which will offer a platform for all segments of the sustainable food industry and its service providers. New areas for research and development, production, administration, marketing, and logistics are to be built in Berlin from 2025.
Which food trends are shaping the food transformation is a topic already being discussed in the Food Campus Community Food Campus Digital.
Together with the startup ECF Farmsystems, REWE is also committed to holistic, sustainable, and regional food production - short transport routes and superfluous packaging materials make it possible.
Berlin offers excellent location advantages for startups in the food and food tech sectors, and not just as the ideal test market for Germany. In recent years, new and rapidly growing companies have come to the capital, including:
- Veganz - vegan product variety
- Koawach - fair trade organic cocoa with caffeine from guarana
- HelloFresh - Cooking box provider
- KitchenStories - video and photo tutorials for simple dishes
- Hokey Pokey - Ice cream patisserie
- Bluu Seafood - Seafood made from fish cells
Location advantages for the food industry
- Metropolitan Berlin is an ideal test market for new products.
- Berlin's close economic relations with the ten new EU member states and its proximity to the 250 million consumers in Eastern Europe mean promising sales opportunities.
- The region's robust agricultural sector ensures that food and beverage makers have quick access to the quality ingredients they need.
- Service providers in the packaging industry and logistics centers guarantee the shortest possible path to consumers.
- The eastward expansion of the EU is opening new horizons. New quality certification programs for organic meats and potatoes offer producers new ways to improve their marketing and boost sales.
- Another promising field for the industry is the processing of local agricultural resources.
- The growth of the organic food market is especially dynamic in Berlin, which has more organic supermarkets than any other European city. There are clear opportunities for value-added processing in the areas of yoghurt, cheese, frozen foods, convenience foods, chilled foods and juices.
- A number of leading international tradeshows take place in Berlin, including the Grüne Woche, which is the world's largest consumer exhibition for agriculture and nutrition, and the Fruit Logistica, which is the leading industry get-together for the fresh fruit trade.
(Source: Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises (Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Energie und Betriebe), 2024)
Selection of scientific institutions
- Berliner Hochschule für Technik
- Dairy Industry Academy and Research Institute, Oranienburg
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology
- German Institute of Human Nutrition
- Institute of Crop Processing IGV GmbH, Potsdam-Rehbrücke
- Institute of Fermentation and Biotechnology Berlin (IfGB)
- Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB)
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institute for Food Technology and Food
Selection of networks, initiatives and associations
Association for the Promotion of Organic Farming Berlin-Brandenburg (FÖL)
The Association for the Promotion of Organic Farming Berlin-Brandenburg (FÖL) is a non-profit association promoting the demand for organic products by general consumer information and public relations activities.
Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE)
The Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE) is the political top-level association of the German food and drink industry.
FoodBerlin
FoodBerlin is a research and innovation network on sustainable food systems of scientists from major universities and research institutes in the Berlin-Brandenburg capital region.
Food Industry Cluster of the State of Brandenburg
The cluster connects the companies and research facilities of the food industry in the state of Brandenburg.
German AgriFood Society
The German AgriFood Society is the only nationwide, independent interest group for startups and innovation drivers in the AgriFood sector. It is committed to future-proof nutrition and climate-positive agriculture.
pro agro e.V.
pro agro is a federation that works on behalf of rural areas in the Brandenburg-Berlin region.
Trade Association of Food Industry in Berlin and Brandenburg
The Trade Association of Food Industry in Berlin and Brandenburg is the advocacy of the economic sector which is important for the region.
ZIM Network - Agriphotonics
In the international ZIM network "AgriPhotonik - Knowledge-based, site-adapted and sustainable crop production using optical methods" coordinated by OpTecBB, not only two different fields of technology are linked, but through the international cooperation with Israel, new AgriPhotonik solutions are developed, which are to be brought to the global market.
Selection of company builders, incubators, accelerators, and labs
FoodLabs
This purpose-driven investor focuses on building pioneering companies that pave the way for healthier diets, sustainable agriculture and better access to food.
Green Generation Fund
Investing in food tech and green tech start-ups for a resilient society within planetary boundaries.
Hungry Ventures
As a consulting company in the food industry, Hungry Ventures specialises in understanding the challenges related to new business models, digitalisation, and innovation and helps shape the necessary changes.
KitchenTown Berlin
Kitchentown is a new incubator in Berlin just for food startups. Thanks to the German branch of the Silicon Valley company Kitchentown, start-up entrepreneurs can hone their products, produce the first batches, and, if necessary, even raise capital.
ProVeg Incubator
The ProVeg Incubator runs a future-oriented program for company founders seeking to replace conventional animal foods with plant or fungus-based and/or other cultivated products. The aim is to reduce the worldwide consumption of animal products.
ZINTINUS
This venture capital fund focuses on innovations in the field of food technology. The aim is to make a positive contribution to the transformation of the food system.
