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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).
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