Spices and Herbs

Germany is the third largest exporter of spices and herbs in the EU. In 1997, the volume of
exports from Germany accounted for 16,027 tonnes, which represented 15 per cent of total
EU exports. Spice mixtures account for 22 per cent of total German exports, pepper 18 per
cent and capsicum/paprika 10 per cent. Other important export product groups include
coriander, fennel, anise and caraway seed, juniper berries, nutmeg, thyme and bay leaves.
In 1997, other EU markets imported 63 per cent, while Poland, North American and other
Eastern European markets were other significant customers.
Germany is the biggest producer of foods in the EU, but her industries have been greatly
affected by competition from low cost centres of production in Asian countries. In
addition, the increasingly concentrated and powerful retail sector has strengthened its
position, which has had a negative impact on local producers.
Because of growing consumer resistance to industrially manipulated ingredients, there is a
rising demand for organically grown food. Germany is one of the world’s largest
producers and consumers of organic foods.
In the German market, comprehensive ranges of organic spices are sold. In 1997 sales of
all organic foods together, which were sold in the 1,700 organic food shops, amounted to
some ECU 1,788 million. This amounts to 1.5 per cent of total German food sales and is
expected to grow by 2-3 per cent every year. Organic foods are also making progress in
German supermarkets (Tengelmann, Rewe, Metro, Edeka and Globus).
4.2.2 United Kingdom
The United Kingdom had around 58.7 million inhabitants in 1997. The average GDP per
capita in 1996 was 15,400 ECU and the United Kingdom is the second largest trader in the
EU. The United Kingdom has a long tradition in spice trading with ex-colonies. With a 17
per cent share of total EU imports, the United Kingdom is the third largest EU market for
spices and herbs. Spice imports in 1997 amounted to 43,948 tonnes, with a value of ECU
82.8 million, which represented 13 per cent of total EU imports. The apparent
consumption in 1997 amounted to 37,756 tonnes, an increase of 54 per cent compared to
24,379 tonnes in 1992. Variations in apparent consumption from year to year are caused
not only by actual import and export volumes but also by the holding and releasing of
stock by major traders in different periods.
In 1997 British consumption, at about 251 grams per head per year, was less than one third
of that in Germany, but is rising. The most popular herbs have traditionally been parsley,
thyme, basil and marjoram but, because of the increasing immigrant population,
consumers have become more interested in ethnic and foreign foods, with the result that
the list of herbs and spices has expanded greatly.
Between 1993 and 1996 there was, according to McCormick, a major change in eating
habits. Ready prepared meals and sauces were used more often and significantly more
people began to eat out, especially in Indian and Chinese restaurants. This led to a fast
growing demand for convenience foods. British people also enjoy trying out foreign dishes
and this has contributed to the growing demand for more variety in ready meals.
TV cookery programmes have stimulated more interest in learning about good food and
authentic flavourings, and this has been reinforced by more travel abroad, health concerns
61