Europe Edible Meat Market Size and Share

Europe Edible Meat Market Summary
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Europe Edible Meat Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The Europe edible meat market reached USD 193.00 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to USD 201.10 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.83% during the forecast period. This modest growth trajectory reflects the mature nature of European meat consumption patterns, where volume expansion remains constrained by demographic shifts and evolving dietary preferences toward flexitarian approaches. The processed meat segments, which include ready-to-cook and pre-packaged options, demonstrate steady growth primarily attributed to busy lifestyles and increasing urbanization, which fuel the demand for convenient food solutions. Consumers are increasingly seeking time-saving meal options that do not compromise on taste and quality, contributing to the expansion of the processed meat category.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By type, pork led with 40.81% of the Europe edible meat market share in 2024; mutton is forecast to expand at a 1.03% CAGR through 2030.
  • By form, fresh/chilled products captured 41.21% of the Europe edible meat market size in 2024; processed categories are projected to grow at a 1.35% CAGR between 2025 and 2030.
  • By distribution channel, the off-trade segment held 51.27% share in 2024, while on-trade is advancing at a 1.56% CAGR through 2030 as foodservice rebounds.
  • By geography, Russia commanded 16.24% revenue share in 2024; Italy records the strongest expected CAGR at 1.12% over the forecast period.

Segment Analysis

By Type: Pork Dominance Faces Mutton Growth

Pork commands 40.81% market share in 2024, reflecting deeply embedded consumption patterns across Central and Eastern European markets where traditional cuisine and established supply chains support continued demand. However, mutton demonstrates the strongest growth trajectory at 1.03% CAGR through 2030, driven by halal market expansion and specialty restaurant demand in Western European urban centers. Beef maintains steady performance in premium segments, particularly grass-fed and organic categories that benefit from health-conscious consumer trends and restaurant industry recovery. Poultry continues gaining share through convenience product innovation and price competitiveness, while other meat categories, including game and specialty proteins, serve niche markets with limited scale potential.

The protein category landscape increasingly reflects demographic and cultural shifts, with younger consumers showing greater openness to diverse protein sources while traditional preferences remain strong in rural and older demographic segments. Polish poultry production increased 5.4% in the first half of 2024, demonstrating the sector's resilience despite feed cost pressures and competitive challenges from Ukrainian imports[2]Source: Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur, “Polish poultry production and exports flourish,” agroberichtenbuitenland.nl. Regulatory compliance requirements under European Union animal welfare standards create differentiation opportunities for processors investing in higher-standard production systems, though compliance costs pressure margins across all protein categories.

Europe Edible Meat Market: Market Share by By Type
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By Form: Fresh Products Lead, Processed Accelerates

Fresh/chilled products maintain 41.21% market share in 2024, benefiting from consumer preferences for minimally processed foods and growing health consciousness that favors whole-cut alternatives over heavily processed options. The processed segment grows at 1.35% CAGR through 2030, driven by convenience trends and innovation in natural preservation systems that address clean-label demands. Frozen products serve price-sensitive segments and bulk foodservice applications, while canned formats remain niche despite shelf-stability advantages. Processed subcategories, including nuggets, sausages, and deli meats, benefit from premiumization trends and artisanal positioning strategies.

Clean-label innovation is reshaping processed meat formulations, with companies like Syensqo introducing plant-based preservative systems derived from rosemary extract that replace artificial additives while maintaining shelf life and quality characteristics. These developments address consumer concerns about artificial preservatives while enabling processors to maintain competitive pricing and distribution efficiency. The form segmentation increasingly reflects the tension between convenience demands and clean-label preferences, creating opportunities for processors capable of delivering both attributes simultaneously.

By Distribution Channel: Off-Trade Strength, On-Trade Recovery

Off-trade channels control 51.27% market share in 2024, reflecting the dominance of supermarkets, hypermarkets, and convenience stores in European meat distribution, though on-trade segments demonstrate faster growth at 1.56% CAGR as foodservice recovery accelerates post-pandemic. Online retail penetration remains limited for fresh meat categories due to cold-chain complexity and consumer preferences for visual inspection, though specialized meat e-commerce platforms and subscription services are gaining traction in urban markets.

The channel landscape reflects broader retail consolidation trends, with merger and acquisition activity among European food retailers increasing market concentration and creating procurement advantages for scale players. Hotels, restaurants, and catering segments benefit from tourism recovery and corporate dining resumption, though inflation pressures constrain premium product adoption in price-sensitive foodservice applications. Convenience stores and grocery formats are expanding ready-to-eat meat offerings to capture on-the-go consumption occasions, while supermarkets invest in in-store butchery services to differentiate against discount competitors.

Europe Edible Meat Market: Market Share by By Distribution Channel
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Geography Analysis

Russia leads the European market with a 16.24% share in 2024, supported by large-scale domestic production capabilities and export-oriented processing infrastructure that serves both domestic consumption and international trade opportunities. The country's meat industry benefits from agricultural self-sufficiency policies and government support for modernization initiatives, though geopolitical factors and trade restrictions create market access challenges for certain export destinations. Italy demonstrates the strongest growth momentum at 1.12% CAGR through 2030, driven by premium product positioning, tourism industry recovery, and strong domestic demand for specialty cuts and processed products.

France leverages its culinary heritage and premium positioning to maintain market share despite mature consumption patterns, while Spain benefits from competitive production costs and established export relationships with other European markets. The Netherlands focuses on high-value processing and re-export activities, utilizing advanced logistics infrastructure and strategic geographic positioning. Poland's meat sector demonstrates resilience with strong export performance, though it faces competitive pressures from Mercosur trade agreements and Ukrainian imports that challenge domestic producers on price competitiveness. Belgium and Sweden serve as important regional hubs for specialized processing and distribution, while smaller markets including the rest of Europe category provide niche opportunities for premium and organic products.

Eastern European markets generally show stronger volume growth potential compared to Western European counterparts, where mature consumption patterns and demographic trends constrain expansion opportunities. However, Western European markets command higher average selling prices and demonstrate greater willingness to pay premiums for sustainability certifications, animal welfare standards, and provenance claims. 

Competitive Landscape

The Europe Edible Meat Market exhibits fragmented competitive dynamics, indicating intense rivalry across regional processing capabilities and distribution networks. Major multinational players, including JBS, Cargill, and Tyson Foods, compete alongside established European processors like Danish Crown, Vion Food Group, and Tönnies Holding, creating a competitive environment where scale advantages coexist with regional specialization strategies. 

Technology adoption increasingly differentiates market leaders, with companies investing in automation systems and blockchain traceability platforms to capture operational efficiencies and meet evolving consumer demands for transparency and sustainability. Strategic consolidation continues to reshape competitive positioning, exemplified by merger and acquisition activities.

White-space opportunities emerge in hybrid product categories, halal-certified processing capacity, and premium organic segments where regulatory compliance creates barriers to entry for smaller competitors. Emerging disruptors focus on direct-to-consumer distribution models, subscription-based meat delivery services, and specialized processing of heritage breeds, though scale limitations constrain their ability to challenge established players in mainstream market segments. The competitive landscape increasingly rewards processors capable of balancing operational efficiency with sustainability credentials and regulatory compliance under evolving European Union animal welfare and environmental standards.

Europe Edible Meat Industry Leaders

  1. Danish Crown AmbA

  2. Vion Food Group

  3. Tönnies Holding

  4. JBS S.A.

  5. ABP Food Group

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Europe Edible Meat Market Concentration
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Recent Industry Developments

  • August 2025: Leon Grocery, known for its 'Naturally Fast Food' philosophy, launched its new Korean GFC Nuggets to the frozen food aisle. These nuggets will be available exclusively through Ocado. Made from 100% chicken thigh and coated with Leon’s signature gluten-free crumb, the Korean GFC Nuggets feature a spicy, umami-rich flavor profile.
  • June 2025: Tabasco introduced spicy frozen chicken products in the United Kingdom through a partnership with Iceland. The product line includes Chicken Fillet Strips and Chicken Burgers, which launched in Iceland and Food Warehouse stores. The products feature a crunchy, spicy coating incorporating the Original Tabasco Pepper Sauce flavor.
  • June 2025: Sigma Alimentos announced plans to construct a new packaged meats plant in Valencia and expand capacity at its "La Bureba" facility in Castilla y León. The new infrastructure will restore full production capacity in Spain by 2027. The company expects these facilities to strengthen its operational resilience and efficiency in the region.

Table of Contents for Europe Edible Meat Industry Report

1. INTRODUCTION

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET LANDSCAPE

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Price Trends
    • 4.2.1 Beef
    • 4.2.2 Mutton
    • 4.2.3 Pork
    • 4.2.4 Poultry
  • 4.3 Production Trends
    • 4.3.1 Beef
    • 4.3.2 Mutton
    • 4.3.3 Pork
    • 4.3.4 Poultry
  • 4.4 Market Drivers
    • 4.4.1 High-protein diet adoption
    • 4.4.2 Convenience-oriented meat products
    • 4.4.3 Premiumization of specialty cuts
    • 4.4.4 Cold-chain tech improvements
    • 4.4.5 Blockchain export traceability
    • 4.4.6 Growth in halal-certified capacity
  • 4.5 Market Restraints
    • 4.5.1 Stringent animal-welfare rules
    • 4.5.2 Rise of alternative proteins as substitutes
    • 4.5.3 Increasing biosecurity risks
    • 4.5.4 Rising adoption of flexitarian and vegan diets
  • 4.6 Supply Chain Analysis
  • 4.7 Regulatory Landscape
  • 4.8 Trade Analysis
    • 4.8.1 Import Analysis
    • 4.8.2 Export Analysis
  • 4.9 Porter's Five Forces
    • 4.9.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.9.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
    • 4.9.3 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.9.4 Threat of Substitutes
    • 4.9.5 Competitive Rivalry
  • 4.10 Key Strategic Questions for Meat-industry CEOs

5. MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECASTS (VALUE AND VOLUME)

  • 5.1 By Type
    • 5.1.1 Beef
    • 5.1.2 Pork
    • 5.1.3 Mutton
    • 5.1.3.1 Goat
    • 5.1.3.2 Sheep
    • 5.1.4 Poultry
    • 5.1.4.1 Chicken
    • 5.1.4.2 Turkey
    • 5.1.4.3 Other Poultry
    • 5.1.5 Other Meat
  • 5.2 By Form
    • 5.2.1 Canned
    • 5.2.2 Fresh/Chilled
    • 5.2.3 Frozen
    • 5.2.4 Processed
    • 5.2.4.1 Nuggets
    • 5.2.4.2 Sausages
    • 5.2.4.3 Meatballs
    • 5.2.4.4 Deli Meats
    • 5.2.4.5 Marinated/Tenders
    • 5.2.4.6 Other Processed Meat
  • 5.3 By Distribution Channel
    • 5.3.1 On-Trade
    • 5.3.1.1 Hotels
    • 5.3.1.2 Restaurants
    • 5.3.1.3 Catering
    • 5.3.2 Off-Trade
    • 5.3.2.1 Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
    • 5.3.2.2 Convenience/Grocery Stores
    • 5.3.2.3 Online Retail Stores
    • 5.3.2.4 Other Distribution Channels
  • 5.4 By Geography
    • 5.4.1 Germany
    • 5.4.2 United Kingdom
    • 5.4.3 France
    • 5.4.4 Italy
    • 5.4.5 Spain
    • 5.4.6 Russia
    • 5.4.7 Netherlands
    • 5.4.8 Poland
    • 5.4.9 Belgium
    • 5.4.10 Sweden
    • 5.4.11 Rest of Europe

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Strategic Moves
  • 6.3 Market Share Analysis
  • 6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials (if available), Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products, and Recent Developments)
    • 6.4.1 BRF S.A.
    • 6.4.2 Cargill Inc.
    • 6.4.3 Danish Crown AmbA
    • 6.4.4 Dawn Meats
    • 6.4.5 Gruppa Cherkizovo PAO
    • 6.4.6 Heck! Food Ltd
    • 6.4.7 Hormel Foods Corp.
    • 6.4.8 JBS S.A.
    • 6.4.9 Mitsubishi Corp.
    • 6.4.10 NH Foods Ltd
    • 6.4.11 Nomad Foods Ltd.
    • 6.4.12 Tyson Foods Inc.
    • 6.4.13 Vion Food Group
    • 6.4.14 WH Group Ltd.
    • 6.4.15 ABP Food Group
    • 6.4.16 Tönnies Holding
    • 6.4.17 Westfleisch SCE
    • 6.4.18 Cranswick plc
    • 6.4.19 Groupe Bigard
    • 6.4.20 Campofrío Food Group

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

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Europe Edible Meat Market Report Scope

Beef, Mutton, Pork, Poultry are covered as segments by Type. Canned, Fresh / Chilled, Frozen, Processed are covered as segments by Form. Off-Trade, On-Trade are covered as segments by Distribution Channel. France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom are covered as segments by Country.
By Type
Beef
Pork
Mutton Goat
Sheep
Poultry Chicken
Turkey
Other Poultry
Other Meat
By Form
Canned
Fresh/Chilled
Frozen
Processed Nuggets
Sausages
Meatballs
Deli Meats
Marinated/Tenders
Other Processed Meat
By Distribution Channel
On-Trade Hotels
Restaurants
Catering
Off-Trade Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
Convenience/Grocery Stores
Online Retail Stores
Other Distribution Channels
By Geography
Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Spain
Russia
Netherlands
Poland
Belgium
Sweden
Rest of Europe
By Type Beef
Pork
Mutton Goat
Sheep
Poultry Chicken
Turkey
Other Poultry
Other Meat
By Form Canned
Fresh/Chilled
Frozen
Processed Nuggets
Sausages
Meatballs
Deli Meats
Marinated/Tenders
Other Processed Meat
By Distribution Channel On-Trade Hotels
Restaurants
Catering
Off-Trade Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
Convenience/Grocery Stores
Online Retail Stores
Other Distribution Channels
By Geography Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Spain
Russia
Netherlands
Poland
Belgium
Sweden
Rest of Europe
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Market Definition

  • Meat - Meat is defined as the flesh or other edible parts of an animal used for food. The end use of the meat industry consists of only human consumption. Meat is generally purchased from retail outlets for home cooking and consumption. For the market studied, only uncooked meat has been considered. This could be processed in various forms, which have been covered under the “Processed” form. The other purchases of meat happen through the consumption of meat at foodservice outlets (restaurants, hotels, catering, etc.). ​
  • Other Meats - The other meat segment includes the meat of camel, horse, rabbit, etc. These are not so commonly consumed meat types but still, have a presence in distinct parts of the world. Regardless of it being part of red meat, we have considered these meat types separately for a better understanding of the market. ​
  • Poultry Meat - Poultry meat also called white meat, comes from birds raised commercially or domestically for human consumption. This includes chicken, turkey, ducks, and geese.​
  • Red Meat - Red meat typically has a red color when raw and a dark color when cooked. It includes any meat that comes from mammals, such as beef, lamb, pork, goat, veal, and mutton.​
Keyword Definition
A5 It is a Japanese grading system for beef. The 'A' means the carcass yield is the highest possible and the numeric rating relates to beef marbling, color and brightness of the flesh, its texture and color, luster, and fat quality. A5 is the highest mark wagyu beef can score.
Abbatoir It is another name for a slaughterhouse and refers to the premise used for or in connection with the slaughter of animals whose meat is intended for human consumption.
Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) It is a disease that affects shrimp and is characterized by high mortalities, in many cases reaching 100% within 30-35 days of stocking grow-out ponds.
African Swine Fever (ASF) It is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs caused by a double-stranded DNA virus in the Asfarviridae family.
Albacore Tuna It is one of the smallest species of tuna found in the six distinct stocks known globally in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea.
Angus beef It is beef derived from a specific breed of cattle indigenous to Scotland. It requires certification from the American Angus Association to receive the "Certified Angus Beef" quality mark
Bacon It is salted or smoked meat that comes from the back or sides of a pig
Black Angus It is beef derived from a black-hided breed of cows that don't have horns.
Bologna It is an Italian smoked sausage made of meat, typically large and made from pork, beef or veal.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) It is a progressive neurological disorder of cattle that results from infection by an unusual transmissible agent called a prion.
Bratwurst It refers to a type of German sausage made from pork, beef or veal.
BRC British Retail Consortium
Brisket It is a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest of beef or veal. The beef brisket is one of the nine beef primal cuts.
Broiler It refers to any chicken (Gallus domesticus) that is bred and raised specifically for meat production.
Bushel It is a unit of measurement for grains and pulses. 1 bushel = 27.216 kg
Carcass It refers to the dressed body of a meat animal from which butchers trim the meat
CFIA Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Chicken Tender It refers to chicken meat prepared from the pectoralis minor muscles of a chicken bird.
Chuck Steak It refers to a cut of beef that is part of the chuck primal, which is a large section of meat from the shoulder area of a cow
Corned Beef It refers to beef brisket cured in brine and boiled, typically served cold.
CWT Also known as a hundredweight, it is a unit of measurement used to define the quantity of meat. 1 CWT = 50.80 kg
Drumstick It refers to a chicken leg without the thigh.
EFSA European Food Safety Authority
ERS Economic Research Service of the USDA
Ewe It is an adult female sheep.
FDA Food and Drug Administration
Fillet Mignon It is a cut of meat taken from the smaller end of the tenderloin.
Flank Steak It is a cut of beef steak taken from the flank, which lies forward of the rear quarter of a cow.
Foodservice It refers to the part of the food industry which includes businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
Forage It refers to animal feed.
Foreshank It is the upper part of the foreleg of cattle
Franks Also known as frankfurter or Würstchen, it is a type of highly seasoned smoked sausage popular in Austria and Germany.
FSANZ Food Standards Australia New Zealand
FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service
FSSAI Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Gizzard It refers to an organ found in the digestive tract of birds. It is also called the mechanical stomach of a bird.
Gluten It is a family of proteins found in grains, including wheat, rye, spelt, and barley
Grain-fed beef It is beef derived from cattle that have been fed a diet supplemented with soy and corn and other additives. Grainfed cows can also be given antibiotics and growth hormones to fatten them up more quickly.
Grass-fed beef It is beef derived from cattle that have only been fed grass as feed.
Ham It refers to the pork meat taken from the leg of a pig.
HoReCa Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes
Jerky It is lean trimmed meat that has been cut into strips and dried (dehydrated) to prevent spoilage.
Kobe Beef It is Wagyu beef specifically from the Kuroge Washu breed of cows in Japan. To be classified as Kobe beef, the cow must have been born, raised, and slaughtered within the Hyōgo prefecture in the city of Kobe in Japan.
Liverwurst It is type of German sausage made from beef or pork liver.
Loin It refers to the sides between the lower ribs and pelvis, and the lower part of the back of a cow.
Mortadella It is a large Italian sausage or luncheon meat made of finely hashed or ground heat-cured pork, which incorporates at least 15% small cubes of pork fat.
Pastrami It refers to a highly seasoned smoked beef, typically served in thin slices.
Pepperoni It is an American variety of spicy salami made from cured meat.
Plate It refers to a forequarter cut from the belly of a cow, just below the rib cut.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) It is a disease occurring in swine causing late-term reproductive failure and severe pneumonia in neonatal pigs.
Primal cuts It refers to the major sections of the carcass.
Quorn It is a meat substitute product prepared using mycoprotein as an ingredient, in which the fungus culture is dried and mixed with egg albumen or potato protein, which acts as a binder, and then is adjusted in texture and pressed into various forms.
Ready-to-Cook (RTC) It refers to food products that include all of the ingredients, where some preparation or cooking is required through a process that is given on the package.
Ready-to-Eat (RTE) It refers to a food product prepared or cooked in advance, with no further cooking or preparation required before being eaten
Retort Packaging It is a process of aseptic packaging food in which food is filled into a pouch or metal can, sealed, and then heated to extremely high temperatures, rendering the product commercially sterile.
Round Steak It refers to a beef steak from the the rear leg of the cow.
Rump Steak It refers to a cut of beef derived from the division between the leg and the chine.
Salami It is a cured sausage consisting of fermented and air-dried meat.
Saturated fat It is a type of fat in which the fatty acid chains have all single bonds. It is generally considered unhealthy.
Sausage It is a meat product made of finely chopped and seasoned meat, which may be fresh, smoked, or pickled and which is then usually stuffed into a casing.
Scallop It is an edible shellfish that is a mollusk with a ribbed shell in two parts.
Seitan It is a plant-based meat substitute made out of wheat gluten.
Self-service kios It refers to a self-order point-of-sale (POS) system through which customers place and pay for their own orders at kiosks, enabling totally contactless and frictionless service.
Sirloin It is a cut of beef from the bottom and side parts of a cow's back.
Surimi It is a paste made from deboned fish
Tenderloin It refers to a cut of beef consisting of the entire tenderloin muscle of a cow
Tiger Shrimp It refers to a large shrimp variety from the Indian and Pacific oceans
Trans fat Also called trans-unsaturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids, it is a type of unsaturated fat that naturally occurs in small amounts in meat.
Vannamei shrimp It refers to tropical prawns and shrimp that are farmed in areas near the equator, generally along the coast in artificial ponds.
Wagyu Bee It is beef derived from any of four strains of a breed of black or red Japanese cattle that are valued for their highly marbled meat.
Zoosanitary It refers to the cleanliness of animals or animal product
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Research Methodology

Mordor Intelligence follows a four-step methodology in all our reports.

  • Step-1: Identify Key Variables: In order to build a robust forecasting methodology, the variables and factors identified in Step 1 are tested against available historical market numbers. Through an iterative process, the variables required for market forecast are set, and the model is built on the basis of these variables.​
  • Step-2: Build a Market Model: Market-size estimations for the forecast years are in nominal terms. Inflation is not a part of the pricing, and the average selling price (ASP) is kept constant throughout the forecast period for each country.​
  • Step-3: Validate and Finalize: In this important step, all market numbers, variables, and analyst calls are validated through an extensive network of primary research experts from the market studied. The respondents are selected across levels and functions to generate a holistic picture of the market studied.​
  • Step-4: Research Outputs: Syndicated Reports, Custom Consulting Assignments, Databases & Subscription Platforms.
research-methodology
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