Germany's food industry managed to post 1.8 per cent turnover growth in 2004 despite stiff price competition and the overall slump in the country's consumer sector, officials reported Wednesday in Berlin. German Food Industry Association chairman Peter Traumann said food sales turnover last year reached 130.2 billion euros (170.3 billion dollars). This year, turnover is projected to rise by 2 per cent. Traumann said that there were signs that the downward price spiral in the food sector was about to end, but warned that Germany's fourth-largest industrial branch will see further mergers and job losses. His comments came at a press conference previewing the 70th "Green Week" food fair in Berlin running January 21 to 30. Fair officials said that this year's show features some 1,600 exhibitors from 55 countries. The exhibition, as popular with the general public as it is important to food and agriculture industry executives and government ministers from around the world, is expected to draw some 450,000 visitors. Numerous experts symposia discussions concerning political, scientific, environmental and health issues related to the international agro-food industry also will take place at this year's Green Week exhibition, fair officials said. Special attention will be on the 10 new European Union members from Central and Eastern Europe, with Russia also making a major presentation. "The Russian exhibition at 6,000 square metres is the largest foreign participation in the history of the Green Week," said Wolfgang Rogall of the Berliner Messe fair company.
