Tobacco, coffee, grain and fish - Bremen has always been a centre of trade and refinement for foodstuffs and luxury foods.
Bremen's breweries have flourished since the 13th century at the time of the Hanseatic League. The top-fermented beer was not only sold regionally, but also transported to numerous countries on the North and Baltic Seas; there were up to 250 small breweries.
The long tradition of Bremen's coffee merchants should not be forgotten either.
With 10,000 employees subject to social insurance contributions and a turnover of 2.5 billion euros in more than 300 companies, the food and beverage industry is the second strongest sector in the manufacturing industry in the federal state of Bremen. This sector accounts for 30 per cent of all Bremen's imports and just under ten per cent of its exports. Coffee is the most important export and import product - beer and fish play the other main roles. What many people don't realise: Bremen is also the honey capital of Germany.
