T. Ozbun
Research expert covering food retail and all food topics for Italy and Brazil
Food industry in Brazil – statistics & facts
Revenue of the food market in Brazil has grown drastically over the past decade, nearly tripling between 2010 and 2021, and reaching a value of over 922 billion Brazilian reals as of the most recent period. It was among the highest-grossing in the world, and accounted for nearly eleven percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021. Most of the country’s leading food and beverage companies are involved in food processing, particularly meat. This is evidenced by the country's large agricultural area and the high number of animals slaughtered for food. The area of harvested agricultural land in the country has grown considerably in recent years, reaching a total of nearly 86 million hectares in 2021, and contributing to the deforestation problem the country is experiencing. Both pasture and agricultural area have grown, and together accounted for 28.3 of the total area in 2020.
The combination of rice and beans which has always been the basis of the traditional Brazilian diet, mainly because of its high nutritional value and economic cost, has lost relevance. In fact, in the past two decades, per capita consumption of beans decreased by approximately 50 percent, and rice consumption is expected to decline in the coming years. On the other hand, according to recent forecasts, consumption of dairy products is expected to increase, while that of fish will remain stable.
The importance of the meat industry
In Brazil, a country famous worldwide for its barbecues and steakhouses, it is not surprising that the meat sector is so prominent. Poultry was the largest segment, and its meat was a favorite among Brazilians, with an estimated 44 kilograms per capita consumed in 2022. This was followed by beef and veal production and consumption, contrary to the global trend where pork ranked second. In 2021, meat products accounted for 12.4 percent of Brazilian food and beverage retail sales. The meat sector was not only relevant within national borders, but also abroad, as Brazil exported 8.8 million tons of meat, more than half of which was chicken.The combination of rice and beans which has always been the basis of the traditional Brazilian diet, mainly because of its high nutritional value and economic cost, has lost relevance. In fact, in the past two decades, per capita consumption of beans decreased by approximately 50 percent, and rice consumption is expected to decline in the coming years. On the other hand, according to recent forecasts, consumption of dairy products is expected to increase, while that of fish will remain stable.
An overview of the leading brands
JBS, the world’s largest meat producer, was the top food and beverage company in the country based on revenue, followed by Ambev, Brazil’s largest beverage company, and the only beverage company in the top five. BRF, a large food manufacturer marketing brands such as Sadia and Perdigão, and Marfrig another major beef producer, operating across South America, also ranked amongst the leading five food companies in the country. Cargill and Bunge, two U.S. based companies, also operated in food processing and production in Brazil, but were leading companies in the agribusiness sector in the country.
