Number of food enterprises

The food industry is the fourth largest industry in Finland, and its turnover was EUR 14 billion in 2023.

According to a survey conducted by Luke, all elements of the food industry, including agriculture, food industry, wholesale, retail and catering services, have a significant impact on Finland's economy. The industry employs about 320,000 people, nearly 12 per cent of all employees.

The number of food industry enterprises increased both in Mainland Finland and the whole country from 2018 to 2023. The number of both food and beverage manufacturing enterprises increased. In 2023, there were 2,522 food industry enterprises in the whole country and 2,259 in Mainland Finland. There were 1,181 enterprises located in rural areas and 1,127 in Mainland Finland. Most of them were microenterprises.

In the food and beverage industry, about 65% of enterprises have less than five employees. Enterprises sell most of their products in their own region (53%), while more than one third (37%) of all enterprises sell most of their products in their own municipality or sub-region.

The indicator measures the development of food industry enterprises by agricultural region.

Statistics Finland produces information about the number of food enterprises in rural areas.

This is one of the national impact indicators of the 2014–2020 Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland.

The indicator will next be updated in spring 2026.