What is the biggest industry in the world?

According to Forbes, the food industry is the largest industry in the world. In 2007, it was worth approximately $4.8 trillion. This is about 10 percent of the world's gross domestic product.

The food industry includes both unprocessed agricultural products and packaged foods. The businesses involved in this estimate range from large international companies to small local ventures. The market in developing countries is increasing at the highest rate as income levels rise. Purchases of both prepared foods and meats are on the rise in these areas. This has led to an expansion in the number of supermarkets worldwide. The restaurant industry is not part of this assessment.