Food and Beverage "Delights"
Olin Thompson and P.J. Jakovljevic - October 30, 2006

Background

We all have to eat and drink—food and beverages not only sustain us, but also delight us, and we devote much of our time to their selection, preparation, and consumption. The food we eat comes from an industry that, in the US, is a $700 billion (USD) industry, or one sixth of the total industry output. In the European Union (EU), food and beverage expenditures average about 13 percent of household consumption. A major portion of the global economy involves harvesting, processing, storing, and distributing food and drinks, ensuring a plentiful supply at supermarkets, restaurants, and other food outlets...