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Summary of our market study
The French cutlery market is estimated at 660 million euros,
The global cutlery market was valued at $5.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $7.3 billion in 2028.
China accounts for 70% of French cutlery imports, and French manufacturers have focused on differentiation and moving upmarket.
French exports are mainly directed to European countries.
French cutlery stands out not only for its design and quality. Nearly 75% of French production is concentrated among some twenty manufacturers. The national market includes over a hundred companies employing around 1,600 people and generating sales of 300 million euros.
Table knives, pocket knives, hunting knives, military knives and kitchen knives meet the diverse needs and preferences of consumers.
Best-known cutlery brands
- Opinel: Founded in 1890, Opinel is synonymous with French pocket knives.
- Laguiole: The name Laguiole refers to a style of knife that is an integral part of French culture, with its distinctive bee emblem and elegantly curved handle.
- Lion Sabatier: A major player in the high-end kitchen knife market
- Thiers-Issard specializes in straight razors and kitchen knives.
- Perceval is considered a luxury knife brand, producing kitchen and table knives.
- Le Fidèle: This brand specializes in pocket knives
- Fontenille Pataud manufactures high-end pocket knives.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and presentation
The knife is a kitchen utensil designed for cutting food and cooking. The knife and cutlery market in France refers to economic activity relating to the production and sale of kitchen and table knives, but also knives for other uses such as hunting and butchery. the French cutlery network is highly developed and even renowned on the international scene: there is a particular tradition of French cutlery and even a cartography of regional knives.
In the cutlery sector in 2022, over 70% of French exports are destined for European countries (with Germany at 19% of the total, Italy at 16% and Spain at 10%), while the majority of imports come from China (70% of total imports).
In 40 years, from 1980 to 2018, the French industry's workforce has been halved, as a result of competition from Asia and especially China. However, in recent years, French companies have been able to bounce back, thanks in particular to investment in R&D , a move upmarket and improved product design.
According to figures from the French Cutlery Federation, French knife production is concentrated among 20 manufacturers, who share around 75% of the country's total sales. These include such influential brands as Opinel, Laguiole, Lion Sabatier, Thiers-Issard, Perceval, Le fidèle and Fontenille Pataud.
In 2020, the health crisis linked to Covid-19 had a negative impact on the cutlery sector in France, with sales down bysales were down 6.94% on the previous year, as was the tableware sector (-7% over the same period). This is directly linked to closures in the CHR (Cafés, Hôtels, Restaurants) sector. However, by 2021, sales have resumed their upward trend of +20%, testifying to the sector's dynamism. In 2023, French cutlery sales rose by 8.1%.
1.2 The global cutlery market: current situation and main characteristics
International market size:
The international knife market has been estimated for the year **** at $*.* billion. With an estimated CAGR of *.**% for the period ****-****, this market is growing and should reach a value of $*.* billion in ****. The global market is driven in particular by growth projections in the real estate, industrial ...
1.3 The national cutlery market
The French cutlery market is estimated to be worth *** million euros in ****, according to the Observatoire paritaire de la Métalurgie.
In France, there will be *** cutlery companies in ****, more than *,*** cutlery craftsmen and some ** specialized subcontractors, reports the Observatoire paritaire de la Métalurgie.
These *** companies account for *,*** jobs and ...
1.4 A trade deficit in cutlery
evolution of the French cutlery trade balance:
Between **** and ****, the French cutlery trade balance deteriorated (***). A more detailed analysis of French cutlery imports and exports shows that this deficit is largely due to China, which alone accounts for **% of French imports in ****, whereas China is only the *th destination for French ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 Knife demand: consumer typology
The demand for knives in France can be broken down into * sub-sectors, depending on the purpose for which the knife is used. A distinction is made between dish knives, pocket knives, hunting or military knives, and kitchen knives.
Consumer typology :
Dishwasher knife consumer: To analyze the purchasing behavior of dishware knife ...
2.2 Cyclical demand :
The graph below shows that demand for cutlery is cyclical. The three sales figures for ****, **** and ****, expressed relative to **** translated at base ***, follow the same cyclical trends.
Trend in domestic and export sales - Cutlery manufacturing (***) France, ****, **** ,****, Base *** year **** INSEE
Averaging the sales indices of cutlery manufacturers for the years **** to ...
2.3 Some of the products consumers prefer :
The following table lists the top * bestsellers in France on Amazon for the most common knife categories:
2.4 Changing consumer trends
Knife demand is driven by several trends, which have both positive and negative effects on cutlery consumption.
Changes in French interest in tableware:The modernization of French society has led to a change in the way the French perceive their interest in table service. If it is no longer necessary for ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Cutlery production value chain :
3.2 Knife and cutlery production in France
Knife making from raw materials to production:
To make a knife, craftsmen and manufacturers first need raw materials. These are mainly wood, needed to make the handle, and steel, needed to make the blade. Steel can be forged in-house from alloys of iron and other metals, or purchased directly from steel ...
3.3 Cutlery distribution in France
A sales organization largely organized around distributors:
An analysis of the sales of the *** largest cutlery manufacturers in France reveals the following breakdown:
Breakdown of sales by customer type for cutlery manufacturers France, ****, in % of sales Observatoire paritaire de la métallurgie
We can thus see that the cutlery distribution methods ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Knife and cutlery offer typology
The cutlery market includes several sub-categories of knives that can be divided as follows:
-Kitchen / professional knives.
-Knives used as tableware
-Hunting / military knives.
-Pocket knives.
Each of these types has a different end use. While butcher's and kitchen knives are intended for professional use, hunting and military knives are more ...
4.2 Rising production costs since January 2021
Cutlery market production costs :
Evolution of the French industry's production price index for all markets - Article de Coutellerie - (***) France, ****-****, base *** February **** INSEE
Between **** and ****, there is a trend towards a slight increase in production costs for the cutlery market. However, this increase in production costs is stable. There ...
4.3 Trends in cutlery supply :
Pocket knife customization: It is becoming increasingly common for cutlers to offer a range of customizable knives. Consumers like this type of personalization, as it enables them to obtain an object that is unique and close to their tastes. The Le Coq Français brand, for example, offers customization of its ...
5 Regulations
5.1 Legal regulations and industry standards.
General knife regulations:
Knives, as edged weapons, are considered by the Internal Security Code as weapons belonging to category D of the Internal Security Code.
As a result, their acquisition and use are regulated according to the following main criteria:
-You must be of legal age to own this type of ...
6 Positioning the players
6. Segmentation
- Forge de Laguiole
- Opinel
- NOGENT***
- ROUSSELON DUMAS SABATIER
- Perceval
- Zwilling Staub
- Wüsthof
- Thiers-Issard
- Le Coq Francais
- Degrenne
List of charts presented in this market study
- Main cutlery exporting countries for code 8211
- Main cutlery importing countries for code 8211
- Projected growth in value for the international cutlery market
- French trade balance in cutlery (Code 8211)
- Main origin of French cutlery imports.
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Latest news
Opinel expands its plant in Chambéry - 04/03/2024
- - Sales have quadrupled in fifteen years.
- - Sales forecast: 38 million euros in 2023.
- - Export share of sales: 45%.
- - Planned investments: around ten million euros by 2030.
- - Production capacity: 6.5 million units per year.
- - Number of employees: 150.
Knifemaker Opinel to expand its site in Savoie - 13/12/2023
- Opinel has doubled its land area thanks to the acquisition of almost two hectares of land.
- The company has been wholly owned by the Opinel family since its creation.
- 45% of the company's business is exported.
- Sales have quadrupled in 15 years, and should reach 38 million euros this year.
- Opinel produces over 6.5 million units a year and employs 150 people.
- The company has around 400 products in its range, and is planning to launch a new barbecue activity.
Opinel expands its Chambéry plant | Opinel expands its Chambéry plant - 22/11/2023
- The Opinel brand has acquired a 2-hectare plot of land next to its current factory
- The company's land area will almost double from 2.5 hectares to 4.5 hectares.
- Total investment in the future manufacturing facility is estimated at over 10 million euros
- The company's sales have almost quadrupled in fifteen years, and should reach 38 million euros in 2023, compared with 26 million in 2019.
- 45% of the company's business comes from exports, with sales in 70 countries on five continents.
- A distribution subsidiary was opened in the United States in 2016. The company has 155 employees.
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The knife and cutlery market | France
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