
The food and beverage sector is the second-biggest industry in the federal state of Bremen. According to the annual statistical report in 2018 (German), it generates around €2.5 billion in revenue a year. Almost 10,000 employees across the region work in this sector. Beyond the major corporations, numerous medium-sized companies, creative start-ups and the scientific community are providing a breath of fresh air in this field.
The food industry accounts for around a third of Bremen's imports and almost 10 per cent of its exports. Fish, meat, beer, tea, coffee, pet food, wine, chocolate, rice, tobacco, honey, beverages and spirits – Bremen's product range has always been broad. When it comes to food and drink, the region is involved in all aspects of the industry: services, wholesale, production and distribution as well as mechanical and plant engineering, packaging, logistics and marketing.
The history – and the future – of coffee in Bremen
Bremen has been the home of Jacobs Kaffee for around 125 years. Since its merger with US coffee house chain Peet's, the group is known as Jacobs Douwe Egberts Peet's and includes brands such as Jacobs, Tassimo, Moccona, Senseo, L'OR and Douwe Egberts. JDE Peet's is widely regarded as the leading group in the coffee and tea sector. Jacobs Hof, the new Jacobs headquarters in the centre of Bremen, opened in summer 2020.
Another coffee company, Melitta Unternehmensgruppe Bentz KG, has its largest roastery in Bremen, producing half a million packs of filter coffee a day. The group also has its European headquarters in Bremen.