2017 was another record year for food and drink industry transactions, with 727 registered in the bevblog.net mergers and acquisitions database, an average of almost 14 each week, according to Zenth Global..
The total is 103 more than in 2016 and 40% higher than five years ago. The number has increased each year apart from a dip in 2013.
The most active sectors were dairy on 72, ingredients and soft drinks on 68, then packaging on 54. Beer on 40 was ahead of spirits on 37 and wine on 30.