Bumpy ride for European dairy markets
Europe's main dairy markets are having difficulty achieving consistent growth, according to a new 300 page report on Europe's Top 100 Dairy Companies from specialist consultants Zenith International.
17 detailed national market profiles combine into a European overview which shows cheese consumption edging upwards, while butter remains static and drinking milk is in slow decline.
Cheese has been making steady progress, with consumption rising from 16.6kg per person in 1996 to 17.1kg in 1999 and a forecast 18.0kg by 2003. Germany, France and Italy account for almost two thirds of the total.
Butter sales have been virtually static for years, but rising population numbers have led consumption per person to slip from 4.7kg in 1996 to 4.5kg in 1999. Some regions prefer to use oils instead of butter, so the top three countries - Germany, France and the United Kingdom - take a commanding 74% share.
Drinking milk is much the largest dairy market, but also one under constant pressure. Consumption is expected to drop by as much as 5 litres per person from 94 litres per person in 1996 to 89 litres per person in 2003. Here, the five countries with the largest populations all have shares above 10%, led by the United Kingdom.
"The range between the highest and lowest consuming countries is often striking", adds Zenith Chairman Richard Hall. "In 1999 the French at 8.4kg per person used 14 times as much butter as the Spanish on 0.6kg; the Greeks at 23.9kg ate three times as much cheese as the Portuguese on 7.9kg; and the Finnish at 154.8kg drank more than twice as much milk as the Dutch on 69.9kg.
"In contrast to these three staple product categories, there are some much brighter prospects for other dairy markets. The report also shows flavoured milks and yogurt gaining more than 3% a year", he concludes.
Europe's Top 100 Dairy Companies contains 17 national market and 100 company profiles. Contact Zenith International on tel +44 (0)1225 327900, fax +44 (0)1225 327901 or see website www.zenithinternational.com.
Notes for Editors
1. For further information, please contact:
Jason Holway or Pip Millard, Zenith International Ltd
7 Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AB, United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)1225 327900 Fax +44 (0)1225 327901
E-mail info@zenithinternational.com
17 detailed national market profiles combine into a European overview which shows cheese consumption edging upwards, while butter remains static and drinking milk is in slow decline.
Cheese has been making steady progress, with consumption rising from 16.6kg per person in 1996 to 17.1kg in 1999 and a forecast 18.0kg by 2003. Germany, France and Italy account for almost two thirds of the total.
Butter sales have been virtually static for years, but rising population numbers have led consumption per person to slip from 4.7kg in 1996 to 4.5kg in 1999. Some regions prefer to use oils instead of butter, so the top three countries - Germany, France and the United Kingdom - take a commanding 74% share.
Drinking milk is much the largest dairy market, but also one under constant pressure. Consumption is expected to drop by as much as 5 litres per person from 94 litres per person in 1996 to 89 litres per person in 2003. Here, the five countries with the largest populations all have shares above 10%, led by the United Kingdom.
"The range between the highest and lowest consuming countries is often striking", adds Zenith Chairman Richard Hall. "In 1999 the French at 8.4kg per person used 14 times as much butter as the Spanish on 0.6kg; the Greeks at 23.9kg ate three times as much cheese as the Portuguese on 7.9kg; and the Finnish at 154.8kg drank more than twice as much milk as the Dutch on 69.9kg.
"In contrast to these three staple product categories, there are some much brighter prospects for other dairy markets. The report also shows flavoured milks and yogurt gaining more than 3% a year", he concludes.
Europe's Top 100 Dairy Companies contains 17 national market and 100 company profiles. Contact Zenith International on tel +44 (0)1225 327900, fax +44 (0)1225 327901 or see website www.zenithinternational.com.
Notes for Editors
1. For further information, please contact:
Jason Holway or Pip Millard, Zenith International Ltd
7 Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AB, United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)1225 327900 Fax +44 (0)1225 327901
E-mail info@zenithinternational.com