Greek food exporters are dramatically stepping up their overseas presence – and garnering global recognition -- with record numbers expanding into markets in Europe and Asia. In the first quarter of 2018 alone, F&B exports from Greece rose 12% from a year earlier.
Accounting for 30% of Greek manufacturing and exporting 37% of production, Greece’s robust F&B sector achieved steady revenue increases even during the country’s economic downturn. A sharper focus on the export market and improved competitiveness has led to significantly increased F&B exports, which reached a record €3.8 billion in 2017 and are on track to hit another record high this year.
Healthy, delicious and authentic, Greek cuisine is gaining ground worldwide as discriminating consumers increasingly turn towards the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet. In June Greek products took center stage at the Fancy Food Show in New York, with Greece the featured country. In France, famous for its haute cuisine and home to Europe’s most prestigious food fair – the biennial SIAL Paris exhibition – Greece’s presence has more than doubled in the past five years while sales to the discerning French market have soared. In October, more than 200 Greek exhibitors participated at this year’s SIAL Paris 2018 trade fair. The world’s food elite have taken notice.
Northern Greek winery Boutari was recently named one of the best wineries in the world by Wine & Spirits magazine, while in August, the New York Times highlighted a handful of Greek whites in a dedication to Greek winemaking. Last year, renowned French food writer Gilles Pudlowski named the Paris-based Evi Evane Greek restaurant the best foreign-cuisine restaurant in the French capital. The potential of the sector has already attracted foreign investment, most recently in bakery and aquaculture. According to a recent study by the National Bank of Greece the Greek F&B sector could add an additional €12.2 billion annually in revenue. Untapped potential remains, especially in branding and marketing, with 60% of Greek products currently not sold as branded.
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