Welcome Facts and Figures: SMEs in the EU food and drink industry Key figures Food and Drink Industry within the manufacturing sector Food and Drink Industry compared to other manufacturing sectors Labour productivity in the Food and Drink Industry Contribution of SMEs to employment Dynamic view: evolution of 4 main indicators for the period 2005 to 2007 SMEs in the Member States Links

Definition of Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs):

  • micro = less than 10 employees;
  • small = 10 to 49 employees;
  • medium-sized = 50 to 249 employees;
  • large = more than 249 employees.

Source: Eurostat, SBS, 2007 (or latest available data) or otherwise stated

Welcome to smes.ciaa.eu

 

If you are interested in finding out more about small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food and drink (F&D) sector, then this is the right place to be. This website highlights the key contribution SMEs make to the EU food and drink industries.

As the largest manufacturing sector in the EU, the EU food and drink industry had a €965 billion turnover in 2008. With 4.4 million direct employees, the industry serves over 500 million European consumers and many international markets. SMEs, i.e. enterprises with less than 250 employees, represent a large share of this industry. Please take your time to explore this website and find out more.

In its daily work, CIAA in particular aims at developing the competitiveness of the EU food and drink industries, including SMEs. As part of this global objective, CIAA puts a special emphasis on the specific needs of SMEs as regards:

  • Simplification in different policy areas and elimination of administrative burdens,
  • Improved access to finance and research programmes,
  • Facilitated access to international markets.

Quick facts

 

  • EU F&D industry: A diversified sector

     

    SMEs represent:

     

    €450 billion of turnover

    €95 billion of value added

    2.9 million employees

    308,000 enterprises

     

    SMEs account for:

     

    48% of the F&D turnover

    48% of the F&D value added

    63% of the F&D employment

    99% of the F&D companies

     

  • Key role of SMEs in the F&D turnover and employment

     

    Turnover (% in total)


    Micro companies

    7

    Small companies 10 - 19

    5

    Small companies 20 - 49

    9

    Medium-sized companies

    27

     

     

    Employment (% in total)


    Micro companies

    16

    Small companies 10 - 19

    10

    Small companies 20 - 49

    12

    Medium-sized companies

    25

  • Labour productivity increasing with the size of companies

     

    Labour productivity* (€1000) in
    Micro companies

    24

    Small companies

    30

    Medium-sized companies

    40

    Average SMEs

    33
    Large companies 43

     

    * defined as value added per employee

  • Focus on medium-sized companies

     

    Medium sized companies contribute to 27%
     of the F&D turnover and employ 25%
     of the F&D workforce while representing
    only 3.6% of F&D companies.

  • More SMEs in the F&D industry than in other manufacturing sectors

     

    Turnover (%)

    F&D

    Manuf.

    Micro companies

    7

      6

    Small companies

    15

    13

    Medium-sized companies

    27

    21

    Large companies

    52

    61

     

    Employment (%)

    SMEs

    Textile

    73

    F&D

    63

    Machinery & equipement

    56

    Chemicals

    35
    Automobile 18

  • SMEs spread throughout EU Member States

     

    Share of SMEs in terms of turnover (%):
    Spain 61

    EU average
    48%
    Belgium 55
    Poland 45
    Romania 42
    UK 28

     

    Share of SMEs in terms of employment (%):
    Spain 71

    EU average
    63%
    Belgium 67
    NL 67
    Hungary 62
    UK 33

  • Innovation activities growing with the size of companies

     

    Major innovators* in the last 3 years (%)
    Micro companies

    30

    Small companies

    31

    Medium-sized companies

    42
    Large companies 62

     

    No innovation in the last 3 years (%)
    Micro companies

    23

    Small companies

    15

    Medium-sized companies

    12
    Large companies 7

     

    * defined as companies which introduced
    technical changes with substantial effects
    on the industrial activities

    Source: Vision Paper, SME-Net, 2006

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CIAA - Confédération des Industries Agro-Alimentaires de l'UE - Confederation of the food and drink industries of the EU

CIAA represents the European food and drink industry - the leading manufacturing sector and major EU employer and exporter. CIAA's role is to represent the food and drink industries' interests, at the level of both European and international institutions.

Membership of CIAA is made up of 26 national federations, including 3 observers, 26 European sector associations and 20 major food and drink companies.