In 2005, Israeli food companies invested US$200m in establishing overseas, according to Roni Kobrovsky, chairman of the food division at the Manufacturers Association of Israel.


Israeli food companies invested US$100m setting up new production and increasing investment in leading international food companies, “in an attempt to gain access to additional markets,” he said


Kobrovsky told just-food that Tnuva, Israel’s largest food processor and distributor, is investing US$66m in Romania. The company is examining options for other Eastern European investments.


Israel’s export of food in 2005 rose by 14% or US$683m. Of this, exports to the EU rose by 13.8% to US$302m, and to the US exports rose by 26% to US$85m.