According to data compiled in a 2006 study by the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA), the food and beverage industry was the largest manufacturing sector in the EU in 2005. Its sales grew 2.6% to €836 billion ($1.2 trillion) to represent 13.6% of EU manufacturing sales. In 2005, the EU imported $52.7 billion in food products. Innovation played a significant role for EU companies in the food and beverage industry: 85% of the 1,200 food and beverage companies surveyed in 2005 and 2006 carried out product and process innovations. The top spender on R&D in the EU food and beverage industry in 2005 was Unilever, which invested €953 million; however, this figure includes R&D for Unilever’s nonfood product lines. The other three companies that spent more than €100 million on R&D in 2005 were Danisco, which invested €126 million, and Danone and Kerry, which each invested

€125 million.

Source: CIAA