The ham market - France

The French ham market is estimated at 3 billion euros.

The global charcuterie market, which includes ham, is set for strong growth in the years ahead, driven by factors such as demand for convenient, packaged foods and higher-protein diets. It is worth around $45 billion.

Ham market trends and dynamics in France

Consumers are attaching increasing importance to the origin and health impact of the food products they consume. This trend is having a positive impact on sales of traditional products such as Bayonne ham. Producers investing in nitrite reduction.

The charcuterie market, which includes ham, is experiencing weak overall growth (1%), but the ham segment in particular is experiencing a slight decline (3%). Cooked ham segments such as superior, label and York account for over 60% of the market.

Meat consumption peaked in the late 1990s, with an average annual consumption of around 90 to 95 kilograms per person, before experiencing a gradual decline in recent years. Meat consumption has fallen by around 10-15% over the last decade, and daily meat consumption has been declining by more than 50 grams a year since 1998.

This trend can be observed even though pork remains the most consumed meat. The decline is apparent even in charcuterie products, whose consumption rate has also fallen, by around 15-20% in just a few years.

New consumption patterns are emerging, with around 25-30% of French households identifying themselves as flexitarians, seeking to reduce their meat consumption and replace animal proteins with other foods.

Dominated by large foreign food groups and cooperatives, as well as family businesses, the market leaves little room for new entrants. Major brands such as Herta and Fleury-Michon, as well as foreign names like Campofrio Food Group's Aosta, are adapting their strategies to this new consumer landscape.

Ham imports from Spain and Italy are twice as high as exports. Spanish hams, which benefit from the Guijuelo PDO appellation, have gained in popularity.

Regulatory standards, such as the EU's "Hygiene Package", continue to shape the market, and the sector remains attentive to the impact of the Egalim law aimed at rebalancing negotiations between producers and distributors.

Ham market players

• Fleury Michon is the market leader, slightly ahead of its competitors with a market share of 21.8%.
• Herta, another key player and a subsidiary of Nestlé France, follows close behind with a 21.6% market share by value.
• Aoste, a French subsidiary of Campofrio Food Group, has a 21% market share by value.
• Bigard, known for its Charal brand, which has made a name for itself both in the world of fresh meats and in the charcuterie sub-sector.
• Major retailers such as Carrefour, Casino, Auchan, Leclerc, Super U and Casino offer private label products.

Inforamtion

• Number of pages : ~ 40 pages
• Format : Digital and PDF versions
• Last update : 07/10/2020

Summary and extracts