Industry Statistics and Trends
Meat Processing in Europe key trends
European meat processors struggle in the face of persistent inflation.
Swelling input costs forced processors to pass on price hikes to consumers, who were already choosing to spend less on meat.
Rising eco-consciousness stifles demand for traditional meat.
The cultural significance of meat in Europe will somewhat sustain sales and stave off competition from alternative proteins.
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Meat Processing in Europe
Industry Revenue
Total value and annual change from 2012-2030. Includes 5-year outlook.
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Meat Processing in Europe market size (2020-2025)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €376.3bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Europe’s meat sector faces structural decline amid health and sustainability scrutiny
- Consumer scrutiny over health and sustainability is intensifying - red meat is increasingly linked to cardiovascular and cancer risks, particularly among younger buyers and per capita EU meat consumption has already slipped from 69 kg in 2018 to 66 kg in 2024, the European Commission notes. Country trends diverge sharply: Cyprus (88 kg), Ireland (87 kg), Portugal and Spain (85 kg) remain well above the EU average, while Germany lags at just 53 kg. In parallel, plant-based alternatives expanded fivefold between 2011 and 2023, underscoring a structural tilt in diets.
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Meat Processing in Europe outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Health concerns reshape EU meat demand, driving reformulation and diversification
- While overall meat consumption in Europe has edged down only gradually, cultural traditions in Southern and Western Europe such as Spain’s cocido, Italy’s ragù, and France’s steak-fries—still underpin relative stability. But beneath this resilience, consumer sentiment is shifting. Red meat, particularly beef, is increasingly associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer in public discourse. Younger and health-conscious buyers are leading the shift and the OECD projects EU per capita meat consumption will fall by 1.6 kg by 2035.
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Revenue
€376.3bn
Employees
2m
Wages
€XX.Xbn
European Leaders & Laggards
Top 5 Countries
- Serbia +20.6%
- Switzerland +17.6%
- Romania +5.2%
- Ireland +5.2%
- Iceland +5.2%
Bottom 5 Countries
- Bosnia & Herzegovina -3.7%
- Malta -1.6%
- Sweden -0.8%
- Luxembourg -0.1%
- Denmark +0.1%
* CAGR values are for the years 2020-2025.
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Biggest companies in the Meat Processing in Europe
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 | Profit (€m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Groupe Bigard SA | 6,461.0 | 168.5 | 2.6 | |
Premium Food Group ApS & Co. KG | 7,105.0 | 185.3 | 2.6 | |
Bell Food Group | 5,407.8 | 405.0 | 7.5 |
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Meat Processing in Europe
Products & Services Segmentation
Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report
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What is the market size of the Meat Processing industry in Europe in 2025?
The market size of the Meat Processing industry in Europe is €376.3bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Meat Processing industry in Europe in 2025?
There are 48,237 businesses in the Meat Processing industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Meat Processing industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Meat Processing industry in Europe has been growing at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Meat Processing industry in Europe over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Meat Processing industry in Europe is expected to grow.
What does the Meat Processing industry in Europe include?
Beef and Veal are part of the Meat Processing industry in Europe.
Which countries have the most businesses in the Meat Processing industry in Europe?
The European country with the most businesses in the Meat Processing industry is Russia.
How competitive is the Meat Processing industry in Europe?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Meat Processing industry in Europe.
Related Industries
This industry is covered in 37 countries
- Meat Processing in Greece
- Meat Processing in Romania
- Meat Processing in the UK
- Meat Processing in Norway
- Meat Processing in Germany
- Meat Processing in Estonia
- Meat Processing in Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Meat Processing in Iceland
- Meat Processing in Europe
- Meat Processing in the UK
- Poultry Meat Processing in the UK
- Meat Product Manufacturing in the UK
- Meat Product Processing in Germany
- Poultry Meat Processing in Germany
- Meat Processing in Germany
- Meat Processing in Ireland
- Meat Processing in Ireland
- Meat Processing in Luxembourg
- Meat Processing in Russia
- Meat Processing in Italy
- Meat Processing in Poland
- Meat Processing in Slovakia
- Meat Processing in Slovenia
- Meat Processing in Sweden
- Meat Processing in Latvia
- Meat Processing in Croatia
- Meat Processing in Austria
- Meat Processing in France
- Meat Processing in the Netherlands
- Meat Processing in Belgium
- Meat Processing in Cyprus
- Meat Processing in Lithuania
- Meat Processing in Finland
- Meat Processing in Bulgaria
- Meat Processing in Spain
- Meat Processing in Portugal
- Meat Processing in Hungary
- Meat Processing in Czechia
- Meat Processing in Turkey
- Meat Processing in Serbia
- Meat Processing in Switzerland
- Meat Processing in Denmark
- Meat Processing in Ireland
- Meat Processing in Malta
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry process livestock to produce red meat. They operate slaughterhouses, produce fresh, chilled or frozen meat as carcasses and cuts and produce by-products like rendered lard, tallow, offal and pulled wool. Industry participants also bone, preserve and pack meat.
Related Terms
CarcassDeboningCuringRedneringWhat's included in this industry?
BeefVealLambMuttonPorkPoultryRabbitCompanies
Groupe Bigard SAPremium Food Group ApS & Co. KGBell Food GroupIndustry Code
101 - Processing and preserving of meat in Europe
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Performance
Key Takeaways
Europe’s meat sector faces structural decline amid health and sustainability scrutiny
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Revenue Highlights
Trends
- Revenue
- 2025 Revenue Growth
- Revenue Volatility
Employment Highlights
Trends
- Employees
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Employee
Business Highlights
Trends
- Businesses
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Business
Profit Highlights
Trends
- Total Profit
- Profit Margin
- Profit per Business
Current Performance
Charts
- Revenue in the Meat Processing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Employees in the Meat Processing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Business in the Meat Processing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Profit in the Meat Processing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
Analysis
What's driving current industry performance in the Meat Processing in Europe industry?
Outlook
Analysis
What's driving the Meat Processing in Europe industry outlook?
Volatility
Analysis
What influences volatility in the Meat Processing in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
Life Cycle
Analysis
What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Meat Processing in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Life Cycle Matrix
Products and Markets
Highlights
Trends
- Largest Market
- Product Innovation
Key Takeaways
Pork is the top revenue generator for meat processors in Europe. The variety of pork products on offer fuels strong demand for pork, while health concerns around beef limit it to second place.
Products and Services
Charts
- Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis
How are the Meat Processing in Europe industry's products and services performing?
Analysis
What are innovations in the Meat Processing in Europe industry's products and services?
Major Markets
Charts
- Major Market Segmentation
Analysis
What influences demand in the Meat Processing in Europe industry?
International Trade
Highlights
- Largest Importer
- Smallest Importer
- Total Imports into Europe
- Largest Exporter
- Smallest Exporter
- Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
- Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
- Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables
Value and annual change (%) included
- Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2025)
Geographic Breakdown
Business Locations
Heat maps
- Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2025)
Industry Geographic Breakdown
Data Tables
Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:
- Revenue (2025)
- IVA (2025)
- Enterprises (2025)
- Employment (2025)
- Exports (2025)
- Imports (2025)
Competitive Forces
Highlights
Trends
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
Key Takeaways
Market share concentration varies by country. Germany, France and the UK are much more concentrated than other European nations, since a few major players dominate in these countries.
Supply Chain
Charts
Buyer and supply industries
Companies
Market Share
Charts
- Industry Market Share by Company (2020-2025)
Companies
Data Tables
Top 10 companies by market share:
- Market share (2025)
- Revenue (2025)
- Profit (2025)
- Profit Margin (2025)
Data Tables
- Countries of operation for Groupe Bigard SA
- Countries of operation for Premium Food Group ApS & Co. KG
- Countries of operation for Bell Food Group
- Countries of operation for Cranswick plc
- Countries of operation for Vion NV
- Countries of operation for Grupo Vall Companys SA
- Countries of operation for Danish Crown AmbA
- Countries of operation for Pilgrim Foods Ltd
- Countries of operation for Westfleisch SCE mbH
- Countries of operation for Hilton Food Group
External Environment
Highlights
Trends
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key Takeaways
Meat processors are subject to stringent regulations. Legislation covers aspects like food safety, animal welfare and environmental standards. It aim to ensure high-quality products, ethical practices and environmental sustainability.
External Drivers
Analysis
What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Meat Processing in Europe industry?
Financial Benchmarks
Highlights
Trends
- Profit Margin
- Average Wage
- Largest Cost
Key Takeaways
Sustainable practices drive profit growth. A growing interest in ethically sourced, environmentally friendly options encourages processors to conserve waste and energy and allows them to raise prices.
Cost Structure
Charts
- Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
-
Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
- Marketing
- Depreciation
- Profit
- Purchases
- Wages
- Rent
- Utilities
- Other
Analysis
What trends impact cost in the Meat Processing in Europe industry?
Key Ratios
Data tables
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
Country Benchmarks
European Leaders & Laggards
Data Tables
Top and bottom five countries listed for each:
- Revenue Growth (2025)
- Business Growth (2025)
- Job Growth (2025)
European Country Performance
Data Tables
Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:
- IVA/Revenue (2025)
- Imports/Demand (2025)
- Exports/Revenue (2025)
- Revenue per Employee (2025)
- Wages/Revenue (2025)
- Employees per Establishment (2025)
- Average Wage (2025)
Structural Comparison
Data Tables
Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
- Volatility
- Capital Intensity
- Innovation
- Life Cycle
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Methodology
Where does IBISWorld source its data?
IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
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