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Summary of our market study
The French market for edible salt is estimated at 85 million €.
The world market for edible salt is estimated at $28 billion. Global salt production was close to 270 million tonnes, with China the leading producer, followed by the United States and India.
Sales of food salts in France fell by more than 19% between 2016 and 2020.
Demand is shifting towards high-end products bearing "Nature et Progrès" or "Label Rouge" certifications, as well as salts recognized by a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) such as "Sel de Guérande". These products represent 1% of the market by volume, and 10% by value.
The French consume between 7 and 9 grams of salt a day.
The main sources of edible salt in France are the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, with notable production in regions such as Aigues-Mortes, Salin-de-Giraud, Guérande, Ré and Noirmoutier.
The French market is dominated by private labels with 31% market share, followed by La Baleine with 25% and Cérébos with 14%.
Main players in the French edible salt market.
- Les Salins du Midi a dominant force
- Cerebos occupies an important place in the market.
- La Coopérative de Guérande is a collective of salt growers.
- La Coopérative des Sauniers de l'Île de Ré is associated with a specific geographic location known for its high-quality salt production.
- Aquasel
- The Saline d'Einville exploits underground salt resources.
- The Salies-de-Béarn saltworks, a smaller-scale operation
- A.Vogel, operating on a global scale, focuses on the French market, offering consumers health-focused salt options.
- Lo Salt markets low-sodium alternatives to traditional salts.
- Quadrimex Salts, an international company, is present on the French market with a wide range of salt-related products,
- Natursel
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Market definition
In France, the market for food salts is divided into two main segments: those for the particular (table salt, cooking salt) and those for the food industry (basic raw material)
Used as a preservative, widely used until the end of the 19th e in the 20th century, dietary salt provides the human body with two essential nutrients
- the chloride The acidity of the gastric juice is maintained
- the sodium It is important for the hydromineral balance of the cells and the organism
This essential condiment combines the flavours of sodium and chloride ions to give a characteristic salty taste to the foods it accompanies or in which it is incorporated. If salt in moderate quantities is essential to health On the contrary, it can be harmful in too large a quantity . In these two markets, salt producers have seen a significant increase in the last decade reduction in consumption in volume in an environment marked by the communication campaigns of the National Nutrition and Health Program.
However, the French market for food salts seems to have turned the corner in terms of move upmarket which is reflected in the rejuvenation of consumer brands and product diversification . This competition is proving to be particularly tough for the two leaders La Baleine (Salins du Midi) and Cérébos, which together account for a significant share of this market
1.2 World production dominated by China and the United States
Salt is one of the few commodities that the world is least likely to run out of in the coming millennia: rock salt reserves are vast and sea salt is virtually inexhaustible. The market for food salt is growing rapidly, driven by global population growth and the rapid expansion of China. ...
1.3 The French market is not very dynamic
According to the World Health Organization The consumption of food salts currently amounts to * grams per day per person in France in early **** compared to an average of ** grams worldwide. In total, the consumption of food salts in France would thus represent nearly *** *** tons each year. According to Le Figaro The ...
1.4 Other important factors affecting the market
A few key determinants of the development of the food salt market are worth noting:
High dependence on weather conditions The weather is one of the determining factors that can change the harvesting period by several weeks and impact the tonnage. This dependence is particularly marked in salt marshes based on ...
2 Analysis of the demand
2.1 The gradual but definite decrease in the consumption of food salts
The change in the eating habits of the French completely modifies the demand for food salts. Indeed, according to the WHO, high sodium intake (***) contribute to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke In addition, lowering salt intake has been identified as one of the most ...
2.2 The over-consumption of food salts is perceived as a danger by public authorities
According to the World Health Organization, over-consumption of salt, the main cause of high blood pressure in the world, causes the death of *.* million people.
To remedy this, the WHO is now advocating a reduction in annual sodium consumption of about **% by **** . In other words, the consumption of food salts should ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Market shares of the main market players
Salt is most often perceived as a staple food product. Thus, the market for food salts, just like the majority of staple food products, is dominated by private labels which represented. According to the data collected, the market for food salts in France remains dominated by private labels, which account for ...
3.2 A production between specificity and regional concentration
The production methods of food salt are different between earth salt and sea salt. Thus, there are several modalities c oncerning the harvest :
The earth salt can be Rock salt mine extract for salt gem . Dissolved by injection of fresh water (***) then dewatered, dried and compacted for the salt igneous . Sounded ...
4 Analysis of the offer
4.1 The different types of salts
Salt is a edible mineral Salt is a mineral that is abundantly present in nature in the form of crystals. Depending on its location (***), water and insolubles In addition, the salt typology available on the French market distinguishes
the natural salt It is unrefined and therefore contains all its natural minerals, ...
4.2 The price of different types of salt
Guérande salt is a product that has become widely used in the democratized . However, the production of the Guérande salt marshes was abandoned in the ****s. Thanks to the creation of the Le Guérandais cooperative in ****, which today has **% of local producers, called paludiers These marshes have regained ...
4.3 Renewing the supply of food salts to meet public health requirements
To meet these new public health requirements, the manufacturers of the French food salt market́ are not remaining passive . For example, the French startup Nutrionix, founded in ****, has proposed patented mineral mixtures to food manufacturers, using the principle of ionic substitution of sodium chloride. In other words, Nutrionix has succeeded in ...
5 Regulation
5.1 Nutrient declaration is mandatory since 2016
Nutrient declaration is now mandatory on packaged foods since December **** . This law aims to make it easier for consumers to read the nutritional values of products. This regulation applies to
unprocessed foods that contain a single ingredient or category of ingredients; herbal or fruit infusions, tea ; foodstuffs packed in packages or ...
5.2 National Assembly to tighten salt content laws
On ** September ****, a parliamentary report was presented on industrial food . The report recommends limiting the salt content of industrial products and imposing a financial penalty if this limit is not respected. In addition, the report presents the possibility of introducing a tax on excessively salty products Finally, it advocates the compulsory ...
5.3 WHO recommendations on the consumption of food salts
The World Health Organization advocates for the reduction of salt consumption. In this regard, the WHO develops public health recommendations for countries and emphasizes the role of public policies and strategies in creating environments that enable people to consume sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food that is low in salt. ...
6 Positioning of the actors
6.1 Companies
- Salins du Midi
- Cérébos (Esco European Salt Co)
- Aquasel
- L’œillet de Guérande
- Saline d’Einville
- Saline de Salies-de-Béarn
- Saline Coopérative Le Guérandais
- Coopérative des Sauniers de l’Île de Ré
- A.Vogel
- Lo Salt
- Quadrimex Sels
- Natursel
- Salins Groupe La Baleine
- Le Saunier de Camargue
- La Saline de Millac
- La Maison du Sel
- K+S France
- Zoutman
- Rives Saline
List of charts presented in this market study
- Food salt market size
- World food salt production
- Les principaux producteurs de sel alimentaire
- Évolution des ventes totales de sels alimentaires en France (importations comprises et exportation déduites)
- Contribution des aliments à l'apport de sel
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