The Changing European Food Industry

Food is big business. Economic development competition for food industry opportunities is keen and it is also very global. The Europeans recognize the importance of this sector. In light of its importance, the OECD is hosting a conference over the next two days to explore key issues related to this sector.

According to the OECD: "Food manufacturing and retailing in many OECD countries is becoming increasingly concentrated among a few big firms." The concentration issue is important as the industry globalizes. European officials want to know whether current corporate and industry trends will affect European national and regional economies in a positive or negative manner.

How this trend effects producers, smaller retailers and the consumer - and how governments should respond - will be among the issues explored in Changing Dimensions of the Food Economy: Exploring the Policy Issues, an OECD conference in The Hague, Netherlands on 6-7 February, 2003

You may wish to check back with OECD officials about the outcomes of this interesting set of discussions. For more information about the conference, go here.