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Summary of our market study
The sauces market is worth around €1.2 billion.
The world market for sauces is estimated at 80 billion US dollars
In France, sauce production is growing at an average annual rate of 2%. Despite this growth, France relies heavily on imports to meet demand.
The market is characterized by different types of sauce, with a notable presence of organic options.
The main players are Kraft Heinz and Unilever, who hold significant market shares in France and worldwide.
The COVID-19 crisis in 2020 led to a rise in sauce consumption in France, particularly for hot sauces, in correlation with the increase in pasta sales.
The French sauces market: growing demand
When it comes to culinary accompaniments, sauces play an essential role in enhancing flavors and adding variety to everyday meals.
The market for cold sauces was around €650 million, for hot sauces €400 million, and for seasonings €130 million.
Cold sauces include barbecue, burger, béarnaise and tartar sauces. They have grown by around 18% since the health crisis. The cold sauces most purchased by the French in supermarkets and hypermarkets are snack and barbecue sauces (22%), culinary sauces (11.5%) and ketchup (12%).
Traditional meat-based sauces have declined in favor of healthier alternatives such as pesto.
Despite a preference for homemade sauces, consumers prefer industrial sauces for their quality, flavor and convenience.
French consumers are increasingly attracted to organic, natural and less processed sauces, with a growing demand for products low in sugar, salt or fat.
Market players
- Unilever, with its iconic Amora and Maille brands, plays a leading role, particularly in cold sauces.
- Kraft Heinz: Heinz is the leader in the ketchup segment. Its Bénédicta brand is very popular in France
- Lesieur, from the Avril group, and its well-known Italians do It Better brand
- Panzani, from the Spanish Ebro group, focuses on hot sauces
- Barilla also produces sauces
- Mutti, Italy's tomato sauce champion
- Polli, renowned Italian manufacturer
- Sauces et Créations, the French sauce specialist
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of study
A sauce is a liquid or semi-liquid preparation that accompanies certain dishes. There are many different types of sauce, and in this study we will distinguish between hot and cold sauces. We will focus on the retail market for sauces, although out-of-home catering is also a customer for sauce manufacturers, as is the food industry for intermediate consumption.
The sauces market is a sub-segment of the condiments and seasonings market, and mainly comprises :
- tomato-based sauces (ketchup, bolognese, etc.) and soy sauces
- emulsified sauces (mayonnaise, salad dressing, etc.)
- ready-made sauces (béarnaise, etc.)
- vinaigrette sauces
- prepared mustards
On a global scale, the market is growing fast and is marked by a wide range of products. It is dominated by the two groups Kraft Heinz and Unilever, which own numerous brands.
In France, the value of sauce production by French companies has been growing at an average annual rate of 2% for almost a decade.
Nevertheless, France relies on foreign exports to meet domestic demand. In 2023, sales of sauces in France are expected to grow by around 12% compared with 2022. Both Kraft Heinz and Unilever are present in France via French brands such as Benedicta and Amora-Maille . Worldwide, the sauces and condiments market is expected to grow strongly over the period 2023 - 2032, with a compound growth rate equal to 5.6%.
Organic and natural trends are not escaping the sauces market, which remains highly competitive in France with new recipes being launched frequently.
1.2 A growing world market for sauces
The global sauces market is estimated at US$***.* billion in ****. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of *.*% to ****, reaching US$ ***.* billion.
Global sauces market sizeWorld, **** - ****, in billions of dollarsSource: ****
IF each region has its own sauce preferences - consumers like to try sauces from other parts of the ...
1.3 The French market: a dynamic domestic market
Sauces and condiments production in France
The sauces market is a sub-segment of the condiments and seasonings market.
The condiments and seasonings market is on the rise - with estimated sales of €*.*** billion in ****. The sharp rise in sales in **** is linked to the current inflationary context.
Size of the sauces ...
1.4 France's foreign trade
To estimate foreign trade figures, the NC* codes on Finances.gouv for various sauces such as Mustard, Soy Sauce and Ketchup and Tomato Sauces were considered.
France's foreign trade in sauces France, ****, in millions of euros Source: ****
France's coverage of this market is **%. This shows that France imports far more sauces ...
1.5 The impact of the Covid-19 crisis
In ****, sales were slightly higher due to Covid-**, with greater consumption of pasta - and therefore sauces - in particular. Sales of hot sauces rose by **.*% in ****, and by a further *.*% in value and *.*% in volume to October **, ****. This growth is due to both supply (***) and demand, with consumers looking for ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 Analysis of demand for hot and cold sauces
Cold sauces:
Cold sauces include sauces such as mayonnaise, ketchup, salad dressings and variety sauces - barbecue, burger, béarnaise, tartar, bourguignonne. Their sales grew by *.*% between **** and ****. Most often, mustard is also included in this category [***].
The segment's growth is explained by the large number of home meals in **** with ...
2.2 Frequency of sauce consumption in France
most French people describe themselves as "light users" of sauces for cooking - i.e., they don't use them very much, especially pasta sauces, which still have room for maneuver. In fact, their penetration rate is **.*%, and the weight sold per purchaser per year is *.* kg, at a cost of **.** euros. ...
2.3 Focus on the segments most appreciated by the French
Growth segment for cold sauces: variety sauces (***) [***]:
Variety sauces having seen the strongest growth in ****, the chart below looks at the variety sauces most popular with the French.
Number of French people using sauces at the table in households, by type of sauce France, ****, thousands of respondents Source: ****
Hot sauces on ...
2.4 Demand trends: organic, natural ... and always tasteful
There are two types of consumer in the sauces market: [***] - those who are looking for simple, inexpensive products
those looking for easy-to-use, inexpensive products, those who want quality products and enjoy cooking.
The sauce industry is no exception to the trend towards organic, healthy and natural products, but these demands ...
2.5 France's favorite brands
The graph below is based on OpinionWay's survey of French consumers' favorite brands in February ****. It shows respondents' answers to the question "Do you like this or that brand of sauce?" for each brand, with the percentage corresponding to the proportion of respondents who answered "yes".
Amora is France's favorite sauce ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Sauce market value chain
In summary, the sauces market can be summarized along the following value chain:
Sourcing: The raw materials needed to produce sauces, such as herbs, spices, oils and vegetables, are purchased from local and international suppliers. Production: Raw materials are processed into sauces according to recipes and quality standards. Bottling and packaging: ...
3.2 Analysis of production in France
The graph below shows the breakdown of sauce production in France according toEurostat - Data Explorer data.
Structure of sauce production France, ****, in Source: ****
The table below highlights the evolution of the different segments since **** and the share of French production in European production (***)
We can therefore see that France has ...
3.3 Sauce dispensing
The graph below shows the market share of distribution channels in the hot sauces retail trade (***) according to Lsa-conso. We can imagine that the trends are the same for cold sauces.
Market share of distribution channels in the hot sauces retail trade France, ****, in Source: ****
3.4 Segmentation and dynamics of the two main players
Market players can be distinguished according to the type of sauces they offer: cold or hot. Group brands can also be distinguished, as the two giants Unilever and Heinz have different brands in France.
Strategy and dynamics of the two major players :
Table comparing the two giants Heinz and Unilever (***) on ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Typology of products and players
Sauces can be differentiated in various ways, the most common being between cold and hot sauces.
Hot sauces are most often made with tomato pulp, purée, concentrate or coulis. There are also sauces made without tomatoes, using a variety of vegetables, such as pestos. These are mainly starch sauces (***), but ...
4.2 Prices
The graph above shows that, in an inflationary context, prices were **% higher in March **** than in ****. On the other hand, the sauces market is highly competitive, as evidenced by the downward pressure on prices until recent inflation saw prices soar.
Sauce price index France, ****-****, base *** in **** Source: ****
In reality, prices ...
4.3 Supply trends
Innovations: new flavors and recipes
Heinz has launched a "Street Food" range for tacos, burgers and wraps with three new recipes:
basil & sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions& bacon, jalapeño salsa.
On the other hand, building on the success of its Zero ketchup, Lesieur introduces a *** g format and a ketchup with ...
5 Regulations
5.1 Regulatory framework
First of all, France is obliged to comply with EU directives and regulations. The sauces, dressings and condiments industry, which comes under the food category, is included in this framework. Food products marketed in the EU must comply with European Regulation ****/****. This article requires accurate and fair product labeling. The exact ...
6 Positioning the players
6.1 Positioning the players
- Unilever Groupe
- Kraft Heinz
- Ebro Foods Group
- Amora Maille
- Lesieur (Avril Groupe)
- Barilla Group
- Mutti
- Benedicta (groupe Kraft Heinz)
- Italians do it Better (Avril Groupe)
- Polli
- Sauces & Créations
- Solina
- Le Graët Groupe
- Kura de Bourgogne
- Alelor
List of charts presented in this market study
- Size of the global sauces and condiments market
- Size of the condiment manufacturing market in France
- Breakdown of sauces sales (consumer prices)
- Structure of sauce production
- Market share of distribution channels in the hot sauce retail trade
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Latest news
Barilla enters the French snack market - 30/08/2024
- Barilla, the world's pasta giant, is entering a new market in France, that of snacks, with Harrys, its French sandwich bread brand, acquired in 2007.
- In France, the group, with sales of 4.7 billion euros, is best known for its pasta products
- In Italy, it is at the head of Mulino Bianco cookies (1.2 billion euros), Italy's leading food brand
- Pasta and sauces account for 60% of sales, and bakery products for 40%.
- 60% of sales are generated outside Italy
- Pasta Group present in over 100 countries
- Sales in France in 2023: 1.7 billion euros.
- Private labels will account for 50% of pasta sales and 40% of sandwich loaf sales in 2023
- 4 Harrys plants, in Châteauroux, Plaine de l'Ain, Vendée and Valenciennes
- The manufacturer's objective is to capture 5% of the French industrial bakery market within three years
- France is the Italian giant's 3rd largest market (15% of sales), after its own country and the United States.
Unilever in talks with funds to sell Ben & Jerry's and Magnum for 18 billion euros - 22/07/2024
- overall, ice cream will account for just 13% of sales in 2023 (59.6 billion euros)
Unilever to cut 3,200 jobs by the end of 2025 - 16/07/2024
- Total number of job cuts announced: 7,500 people
- - Number of job cuts in Europe: 3,200 people
- - Percentage of European employees affected: one-third
- - Main locations affected: London and Rotterdam
- - Disposal of ice cream division planned by end 2025: current value around 8 billion euros
- - Offer received for Knorr-branded liquid soups business in France: from the Sill Entreprises group
- - Announced sale of Elida Beauty subsidiary: completion scheduled for 2024
- - Sale of Dollar Shave Club brand: to Nexus Capital Management
Mutti, the Italian market leader, is concerned about the influx of tomatoes from China. - 25/06/2024
- Italian Mutti, Europe's tomato market leader Sales up 19% to 665 million euros
- Francesco Mutti plans to invest 100 million euros in its industrial facilities
- China to become world tomato champion this year, with volumes up 22% to 11 million tons
Mutti, the king of Italian tomatoes, announces sales growth of 18% in 2023 - 21/05/2024
- Sales of the European leader in canned tomatoes in 2023: €665 million
- - Percentage of sales generated outside Italy for the second year running: over 50%
- - Sales growth rate 18%
- - Industrial investments announced for 2024-2028: €100 million
- - Export share of sales: 53
- - Mutti's market share in Italy: 33.4
- - European countries where Mutti is market leader: France, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Slovenia, Netherlands
- - Sales growth in the United States: 40%
- - Leading position in the Australian canned tomato market.
Heinz adds a dash of vinegar to its Tomato ketchup - 16/05/2024
- - Condiments market in 2023: €1.18 billion.
- - Growth: +12%.
- - French supermarket ketchup sales: €120 million
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the sauce market | France
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