Germany: Greek diaspora accounts for up to 80% of Greek food and beverage exports

Nearly 70% – 80% of Greece’s total food and beverage exports to Germany continue to rely on the country’s distribution network, namely Greek importers, wholesalers, local delicatessens and around 6,000 Greek restaurants operating across Germany.

According to the Greek Embassy in Berlin’s Office of Economic and Commercial Affairs (OEY) annual report for 2025, this long-established diaspora network provides a secure foundation but also highlights a key structural challenge. Greek restaurants alone absorb between 50% and 60% of Greece’s processed food exports to the German market, underscoring the limitations of relying on a predominantly national consumer base.

To achieve further growth, the report said Greece must adopt a new strategic positioning. Breaking through this barrier will require placing Greek products on the shelves of major German supermarket chains, transforming them from a niche, ethnic choice into an everyday option for mainstream German consumers.

The food and beverage sector remains the flagship of Greece’s export presence in Germany, with data from Germany’s federal statistics office, Destatis, showing strong performances across categories aligned with global healthy eating trends.

Dairy products topped the list, with exports reaching 303.8 million euros in 2025, up more than 3% from a year earlier. Cheese, led by feta, remained the dominant category, with export value rising 4.29% to 269.52 million euros, while Greek yogurt recorded a sharp 34.57% increase to 13.797 million euros, highlighting its growing popularity.

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Edible nuts and fruit also posted robust growth, with exports rising 15.10% to 288 million euros. More specicfically, fresh strawberries and kiwifruit generated more than 109 million euros in exports, while shipments of fresh cherries, apricots and peaches surged 46.74%, reflecting strong demand.

The momentum was also evident in processed fruit and vegetable products, which generated export revenue of 236.7 million euros.

Table olives led the category with exports worth 100.2 million euros, while prepared tomatoes rose 46.78% to 18.39 million euros. Cereal-based preparations increased 17.20% to 117.5 million euros, while extra virgin olive oil maintained steady performance, with exports valued at 98.464 million euros.

In beverages, exports reached 85.8 million euros, with vinegar and unsweetened water posting growth rates of more than 47% and 54%, respectively. Exports of wine made from fresh grapes also increased.

Overall, Greece’s total goods exports to Germany reached 3.67 billion euros in 2025, up 5.17% from the previous year, placing Greece 44th among Germany’s suppliers.