- The yearbook Food in Spain 2025, prepared by the state public company Mercasa, confirms that in Cantabria the expenditure is higher than the average in oil, eggs and processed fruits and vegetables while, on the contrary, it is lower in beers, fresh vegetables and meat, among others.
- In Cantabria, there are 992 restaurants and 2,434 bars, which represent 1.2% and 1.5% respectively of the total in Spain.
The average expenditure on food per person per year in Cantabria amounts to 1,607.3 euros, 7.1% less than the national average, of which 18.2% goes to meat, 10.8% to fishery products, 9% to fruits, 8.8% to dairy products, 5.7% to vegetables, or 4.5% to bread.
These are data related to consumption in Cantabrian households collected in the yearbook Food in Spain 2025, prepared by the state public company Mercasa from the food consumption panel carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The yearbook will be available on the Mercasa website next Monday, December 1st https://www.mercasa.es/publicaciones/alimentacion-en-espana/.
Mercasa’s analysis reveals that, compared to the national average, in Cantabria there is a higher per capita expenditure on oil (30.4%), milk (14.1%), eggs (24.1%), juices and nectar (18.4%), chocolate and cacaos (15.1%), processed fruits and vegetables (17.1%) and wine (7%) while, on the contrary, it is lower in other batches such as, for example, fresh vegetables (-19.6%), coffees and infusions (-17%), meat (-14.7%), fish (-12.9%), and dishes.
On the other hand, in volume, always with data of 2024, the last complete exercise, each person in Cantabria consumes every year 176 eggs, 35 kilos of meat, 16.9 kilos of fish, 73.7 liters of milk, 33.4 kilos of dairy derivatives, 26.1 kilos of bread, 11.5 liters of oil, 13.3 liters of beer, 36.9 kilos of fresh vegetables, 69.4 kilos of fresh fruits, 15 kilos of prepared dishes, 61.8 liters of bottled water and 27.4 liters of refreshing and soda beverages.
Taking as a reference the state average, in Cantabria, a greater amount of oil (16.9%), milk (17.2%) and pastries, pastries, biscuits and cereals (6.5%) are consumed per capita, while, on the contrary, consumption is lower in meat (-14.9%), fresh vegetables (-24.7%), fresh fruits (-11.6%), prepared dishes (-8.6%) and soft drinks (-23.6%).
As for the fishing sector, the fishing fleet of Cantabria is composed of 126 boats, 1.4% of the national total.
In Cantabria there are about 377 agri-food companies and more than 1,100 establishments specialized in the sale of food and drink. In addition, this Autonomous Community has 402 supermarkets and 6 hypermarkets.
Street and market sales reach 301 activities in Cantabria, 0.8% of the national total.
In Cantabria, there are 992 restaurants and 2,434 bars, which represent 1.2% and 1.5% respectively of the total in Spain.
Designations of origin and differentiated quality of Cantabria
The Mercasa yearbook also includes the list of all designations of origin and differentiated quality in Cantabria, a community that has a wide range of products covered by these quality labels, covering all food and beverage sectors.
About Food in Spain
Food in Spain is a yearbook published by Mercasa that gathers information on all phases of the food chain. In 2025 it celebrates its 28th edition.
For the preparation of this report, Mercasa has the collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whose statistics constitute the fundamental support for the analysis; in addition to information from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), FAO, European Union, Autonomous Communities, Federation of Food and Beverage Industries (FIAB) and the different sectoral associations that compose it, as well as the Regulatory Councils of Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications; and other sectoral sources.
The final objective is to contribute to a permanent and better knowledge of the Spanish food reality, for which the structure of the report is organized as a quick consultation manual, with a double aspect of analysis: by sectors and by Autonomous Communities.
About Mercasa
Central Supply Markets, Mercasa, is a public company involved by the SEPI group and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Mercasa is home to the largest public network of wholesale markets for fresh produce in the world, with 24 food units throughout Spain. The Mercas Network supplies food to more than 30 million people and is a fundamental link in the agro-food value chain.
More information: www.mercasa.es