It was ranked as follows in 2000:

1st French "département" for the production of cauliflowers, artichokes, seed potatoes and shallots.
2nd for pork and poultry meat
3rd for eggs
4th for milk and beef

26,000 agricultural concerns and 11,280 farms are the leading contributors to a large network of agricultural cooperatives and companies specialising in food processing, transformation and added-value products.

The "golden belt" from Léon and the Finisterian Trégor, is the home of the major agricultural cooperatives and vegetable producer groups, ranked amongst the first in France and known around the world. With their strong focus on Research & Development, they have been able to diversify and enter the high-quality markets.

Farmed for years in the seaside areas of Léon, the shallot has become a regional specialty. The Britallis Group alone provides 20% of French production. Northern Finistère is the home of some major agricultural production and agro-food cooperatives. Founded in Landerneau in 1911, the Coopagri Bretagne represents 20,000 farmers, generates a turnover of 1.4 billion Euros, a quarter of which comes from exports, together with flagship brand names in the food industry, animal nutrition and specialised distribution, whose brands are sold in over 60 countries (Paysan Breton, Régilait, Ronsars, Magasin Vert, Point Vert…). Another regional food-processor, SICA Saint-Pol de Léon , is the leading French horticultural and vegetable group, with more than 1,200 farmers from the Pointe de Brest to the Bay of Locquirec. It markets (40 % for export) a range of over 30 vegetables, from cauliflower to pink Roscoff onions, along with broccoli, mini-vegetables and organic products. These products are mainly sold under the Prince de Bretagne fresh vegetable label which is a favorite of French consumers and exported to over 20 countries.

Not forgetting the greenhouse gardeners of Saveol , , the leading French producer of tomatoes and leaders of the revival of the Plougastel strawberry, known around the world and native to Finistére.Product certification and quality and practices which respect the environment are the hallmarks of all businesses in this sector.

Meat production (beef, pork, poultry) represents more than 40% of the value of the Finisterian agricultural output. A traditional business which has supplied numerous salting and canning factories in the south of the "département" since the 19th century, and supplies numerous and significant businesses involved in slaughtering, transformation, salting and cooked meats: Jean Hénaff (Pouldreuzic), Monique Rannou (Quimper), Jean d'Erguet (Ergué-Gabéric), Unicopa (Morlaix), Louis Gad (Lampaul-Guimiliau), Groupe Bigard (Quimperlé), Abattoirs Jeffroy-Socopa (Chateauneuf-du-Faou), Groupe Doux (Chateaulin), Volaven (Riec-sur-Bélon), Larzul (Plounéour-Lanvern).

Milk production represents 17% of Finistère's agricultural output. Cooperatives (Coopagri, Unicopa) and companies (Entremont, Besnier-Bridel, Le Gall-Sill (Even), undertake the collection, packaging and transformation (fresh milk, cheeses…). Finistère is thus the leading "département" in the production of Emmental, and S.A Rolland in Plouédern is the leading French ice cream producer. The biscuit makers, Traou mad (Pont-Aven),Galettes de Pleyben , Filet Bleu (Saint-Evarzec), Pannier (Briec), Jain (Plonévez-Porzay), la Pointe du Raz (Cap Sizun) and the industrial crêpe makers (whaou-Landerneau) also lead the way.

Traditional production, in full revival, is also honored at the major agricultural shows, such as the beers brewed by the Finisterian micro-breweries (Britt, Coreff, Tri Martolod or La Mutine, from the Abers brewery) or AOC cider from Cornouaille.

The entire food-processing sector draws on research centers, both pure and applied, public and private (ADRIA in Quimper, ISAMOR and ESMISAB in Brest) and healthcare organizations (the veterinarian laboratory for Finistère in Quimper).

Other useful sites:
Website of the food-processing industries of Cornouaille (business yellow pages, innovations showcase, specialized skill centers…): www.iaa-cornouaille.net

The transformation and enhancement of fresh fish products have adapted well over the past few years. From canning to frozen cooked dishes, the brands in this business sector are well established and recognized beyond the borders of Finistère: from vintage-dated sardines from Connétable, up-market products from the Chancerelle de Douarnenez cannery with its 150 years of know-how and the seagull brand of Arvor de Concarneau, through corporations such as Paul Paulet-Heinz (Douarnenez), Saupiquet (Quimper) and Capitaine Cook (Plozévet, Clohars-Carnoët) to brand such as Tipiak (Trégunc, Fouesnant) and Les Océaniques (Carhaix) for frozen meals.

Fresh fish is also directly marketed by large fish traders (Furic Marée, Guilvinec).

The farming of high-class oysters, such as the Belon, in the rias of Southern Finistère, or the Prat-ar-Coum, the inlets in the north, complete the extensive range of seafood products offered by Finistère. The age-old harvesting of seaweed, for which Lanildut is the leading port in France, has led to the setting up of research units and businesses specializing in the understanding and extraction of seaweed's curative elements and cosmetic applications.

Finisterian know-how in the area of fish transformation has also made the "département" the leading French producer of smoked fish and surimi (Meralliance-Narvik, Armoric , Profumer, Kritsen and Pan Fish France in Landivisiau and Chateauneuf du Faou).

Ship construction and repair, both civilian and naval, are significant economic activities. The DCN (Direction des Constructions Navales), based in Brest's dockyard, is the foremost shipbuilder in both France and Europe. From design to completion, including submarine and surface ship maintenance, DCN is a major player in the naval supply chain. Alongside the fishing industry and the region's nautical activities are its civilian shipyards: from the fishing fleet (Chantiers Piriou, Concarneau) to high-tech and traditional sailing boats for racing or leisure (CDK Technologies, Port-la-Forêt).

The presence of electronics, mechanical and logistical companies in the Brest area is due to the long-standing presence of DCN (Thalès Systèmes Aéroportés, Sdmo Industrie, Groupe Meunier, Sobrema).

The agricultural and food-processing business has given rise to important packaging (Bolloré, Ergué-Gabéric ; Hema Sidel, Quimper, Isobox technologies, Bannalec) and agricultural machinery sectors (Ets. Rolland, Pencran, leading manufacturer of agricultural tractors).

The clothing and ready-to-wear industries were initiators of the current trend for marine wear. World renowned brands (Armor Lux, Quimper; Guy Cotten, Trégunc, le Minor) rub shoulders with rising stars (Kana Beach, Locmaria-Plouzané).

The pharmaceutical industry is also present in Cornouaille (Girex and Mazal, Quimper).

The paper industry has developed along the clean and smooth-flowing rivers of Southern Finistère (Bolloré fine papers, including the OCB brand; stationery manufacturers Cascadec, Scaër and Mauduit, Quimperlé).

Finistère also knows how to welcome very specific business activities, such as the manufacture of sporting gunpowder (Nobelsport, Pont-de-Buis), engine filters (Fleetguard) or airbag release mechanisms (Livbag, Pont-de-Buis).

The Brest commercial port, , which handles transportation of Finistère's food processing output, has become the leading European port in this sector. Roscoff is the second largest port of the "département", with significant passenger - mainly British and Irish - and freight traffic with Britanny Ferries.

Home to over 9,000 commercial establishments, Finistère is regionally ranked first in the area of retail sales and the presence of super stores. The "département" is pioneer country; those who dreamed up and developed their brands and logos in this land at the end of the world include Leclerc, Eurodif, La Brioche Dorée, Burton, Bouchara, le Comptoir Irlandais.

The activities of the business service sector are strong and varied. In addition to transportation, logistics and communications, the banking and investment business occupies a special place in the French regions. The Groupe crédit mutuel Arkea, whose corporate headquarters are in Relecq-Kerhuon, near Brest, is an inter-regional group founded on the values which are prized in the Finisterian economy: cooperation, symbiosis, proximity. More than 6,000 employees uphold these values for the benefit of businesses, associations and individuals in the areas of banking, resource management, insurance and travel. Other service companies have been attracted by the power of this Group, unique in France in the regional banking and investment arena, foremost among which is Federal Gestion , specializing in investment fund management. In 2002, the company received the "Corbeille d'or" award from the French Ministry of Economy and Finance for its management of unit trusts and mutual funds. Financo, another company based in Brest, is also ranked amongst the leading investment companies in France, this time in the fields of consumer credit and corporate payment collection.

Finistère is ranked 8th among French tourist destinations. The majesty of its landscape, between land and sea, the charm of its islands, its major cultural events, an exceptional heritage and the pleasures of its renowned resorts, are amongst the attractions offered by Finistère to a wide customer base by well-organized professionals and the appropriate tourist structures (such as 400,000 units of accommodation).