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Summary of our market study
French cheese market estimated at between €8 and €9 billion
The French cheese market is showing modest growth, largely attributed to the impact of the pandemic and market innovations.
France maintains a positive export balance, with 1.6 times more cheese exports than imports in 2021, mainly to Germany (23%), Belgium (14%) and the UK (8%).
The global cheese market, valued at over US$72 billion in 2020, is expected to reach US$106 billion in 2026, with a CAGR of 5.37%.
In France, cow's milk cheeses dominate domestic production (91.7%), while the organic and PDO cheese segments are experiencing growth. Sales of organic cheeses rose by 13% in value and 11.4% in volume in 2020.
During the Covid-19 crisis, cheese production in France fell by 1.8%.
Demand trends
France is renowned as the "land of cheese". There are over 1,200 types of cheese in France. Consumption exceeds 25 kilos per person per year. Household consumption rose by around 12% between 2017 and 2020.
The French have a preference for certain types of cheese. Pressed cooked cheeses, such as Comté, top the list in terms of purchase value, followed by pressed uncooked and soft cheeses. Cow's milk cheeses are particularly popular, followed by goat's milk varieties.
People over 50 are the main cheese consumers.
Consumer demand is also gradually shifting towards organic cheeses. Sales of these products have grown significantly, particularly organic goat's milk cheeses.
This trend reflects a wider societal shift in favor of organic food products, even if price remains an obstacle for some consumers.
The big French brands dominate, with key players such as Lactalis, Bel and Savencia Fromage & Dairy. These major brands dominate supermarket cheese sales.
French cheese market players
- Lactalis Group - global dairy giant.
- Savencia Cheese & Dairy Foodservice - formerly known as Bongrain, Savencia is another major player in the French cheese market.
- Groupe Bel - is renowned for its accessible, family-friendly cheese products, with iconic brands such as La Vache qui Rit, Mini Babybel and Boursin.
- Carrefour, Auchan, Leclerc, Intermarché, Franprix and all the major retailers offer private labels and control a significant share of the market.
- La Cloche à fromage: a name that evokes authenticity.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of the study
The cheese market in France can be segmented into two main categories:
- Natural cheese, made from natural, fresh and high quality ingredients;
- Processed cheese, made from natural cheese to which emulsifiers (two insoluble liquids), sodium citrate, calcium phosphate, sorbic acid (preservative), enzymes, etc. are added.sodium citrate, calcium phosphate, enzymes, vitamin D3, milk fat, extra salt, saturated vegetable oils, whey and artificial food coloring are added.
Processed cheese has a longer shelf life than natural cheese in cheese shops and supermarkets. With nearly 400 types listed, France is the country of cheese par excellence in the world.
Cheese manufacturing is a concentrated sector dominated by a handful of players, such as Bel or Entremont for example (1/3 of the French cheese market). The other major players in the market are either family-owned groups (Bongrain specializing in milk processing), cooperative groups, or dairy producers such as Lactalis.
The French are among the leading consumers of cheese in the world with more than 25 kg/inhabitant per year. The development of mass distribution to the detriment of local shops has weakened the artisanal products sold in local cheese factories and the majority of the cheese marketed is now industrially produced. This has favored the emergence of new players such as Carrefour in the distribution and production of private label cheese. The harmonization of sanitary rules imposed by Brussels is also a boon for industrial cheese.
In terms of foreign trade, the French trade balance is positive, the Hexagon exports in 2021 1.6 times more than it imports cheese. Its main export customers are Germany with 23% of total French exports, then Belgium (14%) and the United Kingdom (8%).
However, the volatility of world prices for industrial dairy products weakens the profitability of manufacturers: to counter these economic hazards and gain market share manufacturers rely on innovation (new formats, packaging) and communication (huge advertising budgets).
List of charts presented in this market study
- World cheese market value
- Turnover before tax - cheese production
- Household consumption of cheese
- Percentage of the population consuming cheese daily by age
- Régularité de la consommation de fromage
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Latest news
Lactalis and Sodiaal buy the yoghurt activities of American General Mills - 13/09/2024
- General Mills, known for brands such as Häagen-Dazs and Old El Paso, is streamlining its operations to focus on its most profitable brands.
- General Mills' U.S. yogurt business, including the Yoplait brand, generated approximately $1.5 billion in net sales in fiscal 2024.
- Yoplait, founded in 1965 and associated with General Mills since 1977, saw the latter acquire a 51% stake in 2011.
- In 2021, Sodiaal acquired Yoplait's European activities from General Mills, aiming to expand its global presence.
- Lactalis operates 11 manufacturing sites in the United States, marketing cheeses and yogurts under various brand names.
Lactalis acquires General Mills' yogurt business in the United States - 13/09/2024
- - General Mills Inc. yogurt business in the United States: US$1.2 billion.
- - Production sites concerned by the acquisition: Murfreesboro (Tennessee), Reed City (Michigan), and headquarters in Minneapolis (Minnesota).
- - Lactalis USA presence: 11 manufacturing sites and over 4,000 employees.
- - Yogurt brands concerned by the acquisition: Mountain High, as well as licensed brands Yoplait, Go-Gurt, Oui, etc.
- - Cheese brands marketed by Lactalis USA: Galbani, Président, Kraft (natural and shredded cheeses), Breakstones, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond.
- - Lactalis U.S. Yogurt products: Stonyfield Organic, siggi's, Brown Cow, Green Mountain Creamery.
Jean-Michel Javelle elected Chairman of the Sodiaal cooperative - 20/06/2024
- - France's leading dairy cooperative: 20% of milk collected
- - Over 15,295 member-producers on 8,523 farms in 72 départements
- - Brands and business sectors :
- - Cheeses: Entremont, Monts & Terroirs, Fromageries Occitanes, Blamont.
- - Fluid milk, cream and butter: Candia.
- - Ultra-fresh products: Yoplait.
- - Specialized nutrition: Nutribio.
- - Dairy ingredients: Eurosérum, Bonilait.
Lactalis group considers a pause in acquisitions - 18/04/2024
- China's demand for milk powder collapsed by 38% as a result of the economic crisis.
- Japan's cheese imports fell by 7%. In the Philippines, by 26%, and in Indonesia, by 13%.
- France, Lactalis' biggest market, accounting for almost 20% of sales
- sales of 29.5 billion euros, up 4.3%, thanks in part to its four acquisitions.
- Lactalis remains one of the world's Top 10 food companies
- 4 operations by 2023:
- Marie Morin in Canada (sales €25 million), a Canadian specialist in baked desserts
- DPA (350 million euros), the world's leading yogurt producer.
- Italy's Ambrosi (400 million euros), with its Grana Padano and Parmesan cheeses.
- British dairy specialties distributor Hawkridge (9 million euros in sales)
Sodiaal to pay for carbon reduction on member farms - 14/02/2024
- - Number of farmers in the Sodiaal dairy cooperative: 16055
- - Number of cooperative farms: 9007 - Percentage of farms to be assessed for animal welfare
Suppliers refuse to accept Lactalis' proposed milk price increase - 05/02/2024
- - The price revised in January by Lactalis is 405 euros per 1000 liters, increased to 420 euros per 1000 liters in 38/32 for February.
- - Taking all premiums into account, the remuneration paid to producers was 460 euros per 1000 liters for the first two months of the year.
- - Unell, which represents over 4,000 dairy farms, delivers over 2 billion liters of milk to Lactalis.
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