Food and beverage

The federal state of Bremen is home to approximately 676,000 people on 420 square kilometres. Almost 22,000 companies provide more than 336,000 jobs. We present the strong sectors of Bremen as a business location.

Farm animals usually get soybean and fish meal mixed into their feed as a protein source. The Bremen-based start-up Farmcycle offers a climate-friendly alternative: It breeds the black soldier fly. Their larvae have high-quality protein. Feed producers like the idea.

Becks and Melitta may be high-profile brands, but international food and beverage companies also manufacture lots of other products in Bremen and Bremerhaven. Here are twelve examples.

The Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is composed of two cities, namely the city of Bremen itself (population approx. 568,000) and the port city of Bremerhaven (population approx. 114,000). The two cities are 53 km apart, but together they comprise the German federal state that carries the official designation “Free Hanseatic City of Bremen.”

Experts speak of Bremen and Bremerhaven as the "food capitals of Germany", and this hardly seems an exaggeration for the second strongest manufacturing sector in the federal state. What would you like? Coffee or fish?

Bremen is Germany’s sixth-largest industrial hub in terms of revenue. Whether the sector is aerospace, food, automotive, shipping or steel production, Bremen has always been a major player.

Fish fingers have been made in Bremerhaven for almost 60 years. Over this period, they have withstood all food trends and are more popular today than ever before. On average, each German consumer eats 24 of them a year. And they were probably made in Bremerhaven, the fish finger capital.

Fries are one of my great foodie passions, much to the detriment of my hips. So where in Bremen can you buy the best fries?

When it comes to the sweet temptation of cocoa, Bremen is at the forefront. From fine craftsmanship in patisseries to well-known brands - chocolate has a special place in the Hanseatic city. And for special occasions, delicate melting can be perfectly combined with the right fine wines.

The first time you read about typical Bremen dishes and see names such as kohl und pinkel, labskaus and knipp, you’re unlikely to get very excited. But maybe names such as hochzeitssuppe, or ‘wedding soup’, kaffeebrot or backfisch will tempt you to give them a try. Where in Bremen can you tuck into typical local food?

I’ve got to admit I love drinking tea. I get through at least two pots a day. Maybe it’s because I’m originally from Oldenburg – not all that far from East Friesland with its tea drinking tradition. According to statistics, every East Frisian drinks more than 300 litres of tea a year – I think I can match that.

The rollo, a type of falafel wrap, was invented in Bremen. At least that’s what they say. Its birthplace is said to be the Tandour restaurant, which advertises itself with a smiling ‘Original Arabic’ cartoon. It’s located in the Eck, an area in the heart of the Viertel quarter, next to the Eisen bar. But I don’t care about all that. The main thing is that it tastes great!

Sabine Marquardt and her employees at Bremer Bonbon Manufaktur create sweets of all shapes and sizes, from huge lollies dangling from the ceiling, to tiny sweets that fit into test tubes. And the variety of flavours also offers everything your heart could desire, such as liquorice, sweet, sour, coffee, strawberry, caramel, and even something called damenschrei, or ‘lady’s shout’.