Poland’s potential for food exports
By John Maday
| Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Poland is the European Union’s only country with positive GDP growth in 2009, and its growing affluence offers opportunities for U.S. food exporters according to a new report from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
Poland, has a population of almost 39 million according to the report, and consumers there spend about 23 percent of their income on food and beverages. The country represents a significant market for diverse food products offered by the hotel, restaurant and institutional food sector. Revenues from activities in these sectors, both private and public were valued at about $2.7 billion in 2008.
The report also notes that the United States is well-regarded in the region, and American food products are gaining popularity. The restaurant trade is expanding considerably in the country, including fast-food outlets and high-end eateries featuring diverse cuisines from around Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Poles spend over 5 percent of their discretionary budget in restaurants, and from 2005 to 2008 sales in this market saw an increase of 19 percent according to the report.
The report acknowledges the EU’s ongoing trade barriers that create difficulties for U.S. food exporters, and offers a “road map” for gaining market access and developing distribution channels.
Read the full report.
