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Poultry Meat Processing in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Kai Buschbom-Helmke Kai Buschbom-Helmke Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: April 2024 WZ C10.12DE

Revenue

€5.9bn

2024

€5.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XX.Xm

Employees

13,665

Businesses

44

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Poultry Meat Processing in Germany industry analysis

The poultry slaughterhouse sector is caught between high demand and increasing pressure to perform. Industry players are focussing on the production of chicken meat, which, in contrast to the most popular type of meat in Germany, pork, is experiencing increasing demand. Sales opportunities are being fuelled by consumers' changing nutritional awareness. Over the past five years, industry sales have risen by an average of 0.4% per year. In 2020, the coronavirus crisis led to significant shifts in demand. While demand from the out-of-home market collapsed completely at times, private demand for industry products increased. In the current year, industry sales are expected to grow by 1.1% to €5.9 billion. The increase in market concentration in the food retail sector is increasing price pressure and intensifying competition between industry players for large retail orders.Private demand in the current year is likely to remain at a similar level to the previous year, and there should be no change in demand from catering businesses and other bulk buyers. However, per capita consumption of poultry meat is continuing to rise and offers good sales opportunities for poultry slaughterhouses. However, the positive effect of this trend on industry sales is limited by the high price pressure exerted by food retailers. In addition, outbreaks of avian flu continue to pose a major threat to both domestic sales and the industry's export business. In addition, industry players have had to deal with new legal regulations since the beginning of 2022, which prohibit work contracts in slaughtering, among other things. In the current year, high energy prices are leading to high production costs and, together with a consumer climate that is only slowly recovering, are resulting in low growth potential.Poultry meat consumption is expected to increase further in the coming years, which is why industry sales are expected to rise slightly. Although industry products will increasingly compete with imports, which are often cheaper on the market, and at the same time retailers are likely to increase the pressure on industry players, large market players should be able to benefit from the introduction of the latest technologies and the resulting economies of scale. In addition, demand for animal welfare labelled poultry meat, organic poultry meat and locally sourced poultry meat is expected to increase. IBISWorld expects industry turnover to grow by an average of 1.4% per year over the next five years, reaching 6.3 billion euros in 2029.

Trends and Insights

  • Fewer and fewer poultry are being slaughtered in Germany. In 2018, the level of self-sufficiency in poultry fell below 100% for the first time since 2009. One reason for this is the extensive exports of ready-to-slaughter poultry to the Netherlands.
  • The industry generates almost three quarters of its turnover with chicken meat. The second most important product group is turkey meat. However, the share of turkey meat sales has recently decreased in favour of chicken meat.
  • Almost half of commercial poultry slaughtering takes place in Lower Saxony, which is also home to the headquarters of the PHW Group, the largest major player in the industry.
  • Competition in the poultry slaughtering industry is moderate. Industry players compete on the basis of their pricing and the quality of their products. Animal welfare labels, organic rearing and regionality are also becoming increasingly important in the competition.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €5.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The sector has little room for manoeuvre in the price war with retailers

  • Producers suffer from the power of buyers who dictate prices and want to bring meat onto the market at very low prices. As the industry also has to bear high raw material costs, it only generates very low profit margins. This makes it almost impossible for industry players to gain a cost advantage through investment.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Poultry Meat Processing in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Biggest companies in the Poultry Meat Processing in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Franz-Josef Rothkötter GmbH & Co. KG
1,341.0
PHW-Gruppe
1,321.0
Union Familien und Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG
531.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Poultry Meat Processing in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Chicken, Turkey and Goose, duck, guinea fowl. Chicken is the largest segment of the Poultry Meat Processing in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Chicken is increasingly in demand

  • The product group includes whole chickens and chicken parts such as thighs, breasts and wings. The majority of chicken meat is sold fresh or chilled to the markets. The remainder is sold frozen. Per capita consumption of chicken meat has risen steadily recently.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies active in this sector operate slaughterhouses in which poultry such as chickens, turkeys and ducks are slaughtered and trimmed. The industry participants produce fresh and frozen poultry meat. The activities of the industry participants also include the extraction of feathers and down and the rendering of poultry fat. The meat is sold in individual portions.

What's included in this industry?

ChickenTurkeyGoose, duck, guinea fowl

Companies

Franz-Josef Rothkötter GmbH & Co. KGPHW-GruppeUnion Familien und Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BROILERVOGELBALGFITTING SEAL

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 10.12 - Poultry Meat Processing in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Fewer and fewer poultry are being slaughtered in Germany. In 2018, the level of self-sufficiency in poultry fell below 100% for the first time since 2009. One reason for this...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The industry generates almost three quarters of its turnover with chicken meat. The second most important product group is turkey meat. However, the share of turkey meat sale...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Almost half of commercial poultry slaughtering takes place in Lower Saxony, which is also home to the headquarters of the PHW Group, the largest major player in the industry.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition in the poultry slaughtering industry is moderate. Industry players compete on the basis of their pricing and the quality of their products. Animal welfare labels,...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The PHW Group has the largest market share in the poultry slaughtering industry. It is active in the production and marketing of poultry specialities as well as in the areas ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Franz-Josef Rothkötter GmbH & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of PHW-Gruppe's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Union Familien und Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Franz-Josef Rothkötter GmbH & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for PHW-Gruppe, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Union Familien und Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Animal Welfare Act is intended to oblige people to treat animals responsibly. It also stipulates that people who operate and slaughter poultry for killing must provide a ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The industry's profit margin is very low. Supermarkets and discounters have a lot of bargaining power in price negotiations and often dictate meat prices.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Poultry Meat Processing industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Poultry Meat Processing industry in Germany is €5.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Poultry Meat Processing in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 44 businesses in the Poultry Meat Processing industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 4.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Poultry Meat Processing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Poultry Meat Processing industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Poultry Meat Processing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Poultry Meat Processing industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Poultry Meat Processing market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Poultry Meat Processing market in Germany are Franz-Josef Rothkötter GmbH & Co. KG, PHW-Gruppe and Union Familien und Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG

What does the Poultry Meat Processing in Germany include?

Chicken and Turkey are part of the Poultry Meat Processing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Poultry Meat Processing in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Franz-Josef Rothkötter GmbH & Co. KG.

How competitive is the Poultry Meat Processing industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Poultry Meat Processing industry in Germany.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.