The kosher food market - France

1.2 A fast-growing global market

In ****, global kosher food sales were close to US$** billion[***]. It is expected to reach $**.** billion in ****, an increase of **.*% over the period and a compound annual growth rate (***) of *.*%.

Global kosher food market size World, **** - ****, in billions of USD Source: ****

The United States is the world's largest market, accounting for **% of market share. This is followed by Africa and the Middle East, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. [***]

Pareve products, i.e. meat-free and dairy-free, which include a wide variety of products (***). Meat and dairy products will account for **.*% of global market sales in ****. [***]

Market breakdown World, ****, in % [ PersistenceMarketResearch Source: ****

1.3 A stable niche market in France

There are very few figures on the kosher market in France to date. However, in ****,the kosher market in France was estimated at *** million euros, or **% of the European market[***]

The kosher market has some similarities with the halal market, which is why it is interesting to compare the two markets. The following graph shows the market size of kosher and halal foods. We can see thatthe halal market is more than ** times larger than the kosher market. The main reason for this difference in market size is the difference in the size of the Jewish and Muslim populations. This is around ***,*** for Jews and * million for Muslims (***). What's more, while the kosher market is stable, the halal market is growing fast, by around **% a year. [***]

Market size for kosher and halal in France France, ****, in millions of euros Source: ****

There are very few figures on the kosher market in France to date.

To estimate the size of the French kosher market, we multiplied the Jewish population in France (***).

Thus, in the "low" estimate, we obtain the following calculation:

***,**** **%*(***) = *** million euros

Similarly, for the "high" estimate, we obtain :

***,**** **%*(***) = *** million euros

But in reality, kosher market sales are higher, since ...

2.1 Targeting the Jewish community

While anyone can buy kosher products, the target clientele is the Jewish community.

In France, in ****, the Observatoire de laïcité, through the Viavoice institute, proposes a breakdown of the French population according to their religious ties. The Catholic religion comes out on top, with **% of people declaring a connection. Judaism, with *% of people linked to it, comes fifth, on a par with Orthodox Christianity and behind Islam (***).

Distribution of declared links with religions France, ****, in Source: ****

Multiplying the number of inhabitants in France in **** (***), we obtain an estimate of the number of people constituting a potential kosher food consumption base in France. This gives us a figure of ***,*** potential consumers of kosher foods linked to the Jewish religion.

For its part, CRIF (***), the Jewish community in France counted ***,*** members in ****.[***]. However, this figure is lower according to the Pew Research Center, which estimates the Jewish population in France at ***,*** in ****. Furthermore, according to the Pew Research Center, the Jewish population in France is unlikely to change much over the long term, rising from ***,*** in **** to ***,*** in ****. Agroligne, for their part, put the figure at ***,*** in ****.

Over the last few years, however, the proportion of the population feeling connected to Judaism ...

2.2 Halal consumers: an important determinant of demand

Kosher meat can be eaten by Muslims, as it meets halal requirements (***). [***]. What's more, the consumption habits of halal consumers can provide a better understanding of kosher food consumption, for which data is much rarer.

Muslim population in France :

According to Pew Research Center estimates, there were *.* million Muslims in France in ****, a +**% growth in eight years. According to the institute's projections, the number of Muslims should continue to rise, reaching **.*% of the French population in **** (***). [***]

However, many sources, including a study by François Héran, refute this information, claiming that Muslims are more likely to number around *.* million. [***]

Share of Muslim population France, **** vs *****, % of French population Source: ****

In any case, the increase in the number of Muslims in France represents a growth driver for the kosher food market. Regular consumers: Consumers of halal meat tend to be regulars. In fact, according to an IFOP survey conducted in ****, **% of Muslims questioned claimed to consume halal meat systematically, compared with *% occasionally.

Share of French Muslims buying halal meat by frequency of purchase France, ****, in Source: ****

2.3 Other demand segments

According to Star K, a kosher certification agency, kosher foods don't just appeal to specific ethnic groups. They identify other segments of demand for kosher-stamped products:

Other religious denominations:

It's not just people of the Jewish and Muslim faiths who can consume kosher as part of their religion. Other religions and sects, such as Seventh-Day Adventists and Christian sects, observe certain dietary restrictions similar to those of Judaism.

Lactose intolerance and milk protein allergy:

Lactose intolerance and especially milk protein allergy can have serious health consequences for some people, even when ingested in small quantities. This category of consumers trusts kosher labels for their high standards. Kosher food production requires strict separation of meat and milk. So, if a product is labelled "Parve", it contains no milk derivatives.

Vegetarians

Vegetarians exclude meat, poultry and fish from their diet. Kosher certification, combined with the "Parve" label, guarantees that the product contains no meat, milk or poultry derivatives, and is suitable for a vegetarian diet.in addition, KBDP (***) certification offers a "V" logo for vegan products.

A guarantee of quality

The kosher label is also perceived by some consumers, quite apart from any religious or dietetic considerations, as a guarantee of superior quality, ...

2.4 Demand trends

Consumers increasingly attentive to the health risks of ritual slaughter :

Consumers are increasingly aware of the health risks associated with ritual slaughter. The main health risk associated with this type of slaughter relates to the health and safety of the carcass, and stems in particular from the "slicing of the trachea and esophagus, which can cause the gastric contents (***), according to which "when the animal is bled, the trachea and esophagus must remain intact." However, this regulation authorizes it in the case of slaughter as part of a religious rite.

Trends in the food sector:

The food market, like other food markets, is subject to fundamental trends that are transforming the sector. Three in particular may have a lasting impact on the kosher food market:

Organic products:

Organic products have been increasingly consumed in France since ****. After a sharp rise between **** and ****, consumption of organic products at least once a month has remained stable since then, at around **%. This increase in consumption testifies to consumers' desire to consume more responsibly, both for the environment and for their health, since these two aspects are perceived as the main benefits of organic food. [***]

Meat-free or meat-reduced diets:

Another underlying trend is the desire ...

3.1 Two categories of players structure the market

The market for kosher foodsmarket is mostlyconcentrated around two types of player.The first is made up of specialized kosher food players, positioned exclusively on kosher foods. The second are the food giants, whose offer is highly diversified.

Source: ****

Most major food groups have Kosher certification for some of their products. Examples include Nutella and Kinder Country from Ferrero, tomato ketchup from Heinz and Nesquik from Nestlé. Coca-Cola had to slightly modify its recipe to be certified kosher in ****. [***] Although these major groups make the effort to certify products that are easily "kosherizable", enabling them to expand their market share, they are less likely to offer kosher ranges and products where the kosherization process is more complicated, as is the case with meat. In addition, it is worth noting that some of these brands have products that can be consumed by the Jewish community, but also products that are not authorized. For example, Ferrero's dark chocolate kinder bueno is authorized, while its white chocolate kinder bueno is not. The office of the Chief Rabbi of Paris publishes a list of authorized products almost every year.

Kosher food specialists are tending to extend their product ranges, offering consumers a wider choice. There ...

3.2 Meat and kosher meat production in France

The Confédération Nationale de l'Élevage details some of the characteristics of meat production in France. It is organized into two herds:

The "dairy herd", which represents **% of the total herd and is made up of animals bred and destined for milk production. **% of animals are selected for herd renewal. **% of calves marketed for their meat are for slaughter. The "specialized herd", also known as the "suckler herd", which represents **% of the total herd and is made up of animals bred specifically for their meat. Some producers specialize in a particular stage of the animal's development (***). The products obtained are calves, heifers and "cull" cows, and are intended for consumption. The breeds involved are diverse: Charolais, Limousin, Blonde d'aquitaine...

Figures from Interbev, FranceAgrimer and Ifop Edition, relayed by Lsa Conso, and the CNE, show that France occupies a leading position in the European meat market:

France has the largest cattle herd in Europe, with over ** million head. France produces *.* million tonnes of beef every year, but this trend is set to decline from ****. [***] France produces around *.* million tonnes of pork each year (***). [***] France produced ** tons of sheep, including ** tons of lamb in **** As for poultry, France is positioned as ...

3.3 Distribution mainly captured by specialist retailers

There are five main sales channels for kosher foods:

Supermarkets and hypermarkets, such as Système U, Carrefour, Auchan and Leclerc Thespecialty storessuch as Espace Casher,Hypercacher Specialized butchers Online stores, e.g. Gros Kash, AuCasher, CacherShop Catering, whether exclusively kosher restaurants(***).

It's interesting to note that supermarkets have made only limited inroads into the kosher food segment, unlike the halal food segment, which is already well established and growing in supermarkets. [***]

This can be explained by the fact that there are fewer people of the Jewish faith than of the Muslim faith, making this a less attractive market for retailers, and by consumers' mistrust of kosher foods from supermarkets in terms of product traceability and respect for the rite.

In fact, the Jewish community seems to turn mainly to specialized kosher stores for the wider choice of products and the assurance of finding kosher-compliant products[***]. The following table shows the number of kosher-certified establishments by type of business in France.

Source: ****

4.1 A significant price premium for kosher foods

We propose here a price comparison of a basic basket between kosher products and their "classic" equivalents.

We can see from the following table thatthe prices of kosher products, whatever the category, are generally well above the prices of their so-called "classic" equivalents. In fact, a basic basket of kosher products shows that prices per kilogram are often *.* to * times more expensive than their "classic" equivalents.

This price difference can be explained by the strict and restrictive requirements, generating additional costs during the kosher food processing, by the small market size and the sector's limited outlets, which make it impossible to achieve economies of scale in production or to encourage investment in the sector. Added to this is the rabbinical tax levied for the granting of the kosher certificate, which also finances part of the religious activities. This tax amounts to *** to *** euros every two months, depending on the size of the shop. For butchers, it depends on the volume of meat sold. in addition to this tax, there is the salary of a "shomer", a ritual supervisor who must be present during business hours[***]

Source: ****

4.2 Supply trends

Brands focus on product expansion and diversification

The kosher market is seeing a gradual expansion in the range of products on offer, albeit to a much lesser extent than for halal foods. Although there is not always a department dedicated exclusively to kosher products, there are more and more references. The range, which was previously limited to basic foods (***) [***]

Towards a kosher offer for the general public? :

Today, the kosher market is mainly driven by religious consumption. However, kosher products can also be consumed by non-Jews. The offer could be geared towards the general public, in particular with marketing geared more towards the latter and not necessarily towards churchgoers. Indeed, consumers are increasingly concerned about the traceability of food products, particularly in the wake of food scandals such as the Spanghero affair involving horsemeat instead of beef, or the presence of fecal matter in Ikea tarts.

Thanks to their demanding certification processes, particularly with regard to traceability, kosher products could therefore respond to the concerns of some non-religious consumers.

Products of French origin

Another growth strategy adopted by manufacturers lies in highlighting the French origin of their kosher products. In fact, LaViandeCasher and LeaderViandeCasher butcher shops insist on this aspect in ...

5.1 The main regulatory standards governing the meat market in France

Non-exhaustive list.

The " Hygiene Package ": this is a set of European hygiene standards designed to ensure a minimum level of food safety on a European scale, and binding on all players in the food chain. They mainly comprise the following regulations: Regulation (***) n°***/****, Regulation (***) n°***/****, Regulation (***) n°***/****, Regulation (***) n°***/****, Regulation (***) n°***/****, Regulation (***) n°***/****

European Decree ***/**** concerns the traceability of meat products, and was introduced in order to be able to trace their entire journey,

The decree of April *, **** concerning the labeling of beef, in which the country of birth of the animal, the country of rearing and the country of slaughter must be indicated.food chain information must also be available at all stages of the meat's journey, as these health data can be verified by veterinary services,

French and European standards allow meat to be awarded labels, a guarantee of quality and compliance with regulations. Among the most popular labels are AOC, AOP, IGP, Viande Bovine Française, Label Rouge, AFNOR...

Sanitary approvals must be obtained, particularly for industrialists and butchers delivering large quantities of meat, to ensure that the meat is transported under the best possible conditions(***),

The CAP: Common Agricultural Policy, set up in **** to modernize and develop ...

5.2 Regulations governing ritual slaughter

European regulations (***) require that animals intended for human consumption be stunned before slaughter.

According to this regulation, "when the animal is bled, the trachea and esophagus must remain intact" Nevertheless, this regulation, as well as the Code rural et de la pêche maritime(***) provide for a derogation in cases where stunning is not compatible with ritual prescriptions relating to the free exercise of religion.

This derogation is, however, highly restricted, for reasons of both public health (***) granted by the departmental prefect[***]

Secondly,Regulation ****/****, in force since January ****, has strengthened the framework for animal protection in slaughterhouses. For example, operating procedures must be "standardized, to ensure that operators take into account the obligation to protect slaughtered animals. In particular, checks to ensure that animals are unconscious are systematically carried out before proceeding to the subsequent stages of slaughter", and with regard to staff training, with new training obligations and the appointment of an animal protection officer (***) within each establishment.

In addition, the departmental directorates in charge of population protection(***) monitor compliance with the specific requirements that apply to ritual slaughter without stunning

5.3 Kosher certification regulations

In France, for kosher meat, sacrificers are authorized bythe Grand Rabbinat de France, itself approved by the Ministry of Agriculture.

For its part, the Consistoire, the authority for Jewish communities in France, is recognized by the Ministry of the Interior and publishes a list of controlled products by category, along with its own label: KBDP (***).

The Consistoire claims to "implement a whole system of controls: ritual slaughtering, product verification, monitoring of butchers, pastry shops, grocery stores, caterers... in order to guarantee irreproachable Kacherout (***) to all the faithful."

However, other certification bodies exist, such as Certif IK and the European Kosher Certification Board. The latter proposes * terms to define the product:

kacher parvé = neutral (***) - Kacher halavi = dairy product - Kacher lepessah = for Passover - Kacher meat = meat product

Other certifications, issued by other rabbinates, have an international reputation and are therefore often found on products of foreign origin. This is the case, for example, with the recognized certifications of the Orthodox Union, an American rabbinate based in Brooklyn, and the Organised Kashrus Labotories, also an American rabbinate based in Brooklyn. These certifications are sometimes present in France on products of foreign origin, and can also enable French producers to sell their ...

6. Segmentation

• Bigard groupe
• Agrial Coopérative Primeal
• André Kacher - André Krief
• Yarden France
• Makabi Cash service
• Buchinger
• CPK
• Kobe Kosher
• L'atelier de Yael
• Leader viande
• Maison Beya
• Micha Food
• Vegekash Kobek