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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Market overview and definition
The nitrite-free charcuterie market concerns cooked meats (cooked hams, sausages, terrines, pâtés, rillettes, cured meats, culinary aids such as lardons, etc.) that do not contain nitrate additives. Nitrate additives are usually very common in this sector, for a number of reasons:
- they prevent the development of pathogenic bacteria and toxins (salmonella, listeria, botulism, etc.);
- they protect against rancidity, thus extending shelf-life;
- they improve the odor and color of products, giving them a rosy appearance. [Inrae]
The presence of nitrites poses a problem, however, as research has shown thatthey can increase the risk of cancer, particularly colorectal cancer. Since 2010, they have been classified as a "probable carcinogen" by Circ (the World Health Organization's Agency for Research on Cancer). In 2022, the Anses (Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail) estimated that to protect consumers, it was necessary to reduce their exposure to nitrites, by targeting deli meats in particular. [Inrae]
In response, charcuterie manufacturers have launched nitrite-free ranges, i.e. without adding nitrite additives to their products to improve preservation. Various solutions have already emerged to eliminate this component (cooking in specific broths, use of ultra-fresh meat, increased number of microbiological controls, etc.), and not make do with the nitrites naturally present in certain plants, a solution that some manufacturers may have employed in the early days. However, the French Ministry of Agriculture advises that further research is needed to develop more alternatives to nitrites.
Against this backdrop, the "nitrite-free" market is growing, driven by consumers' desire to pay more attention to their health. In France, it is estimated to represent between 9 and 10% of the overall charcuterie market by value, and to have grown by 460% between 2019 and 2024. All the major brands on the shelves now offer nitrite-free alternatives, strengthening the offer and helping to reassure the public, who are increasingly tending to consume "less but better", particularly when it comes to meat.
1.2 Global market
The global charcuterie market is set for strong growth in the years ahead. It could rise from $***.* billion in **** to almost $*** billion in ****, at a CAGR (***) of *.*% over this period. [***]
This growth is due in particular to rising demand since the Covid-** crisis. Consumers increasingly prefer foods that are convenient to ...
1.3 French market
In France, the self-service charcuterie market has taken advantage of the inflation observed since the Covid-** crisis to grow by *.*% in **** and *.*% in ****, to reach *.** billion euros. [***]
This growth in value must, however, be offset by a decline in sales volume, of around -*% in ****. "Delicatessen] too has finally suffered the ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 Consumption of charcuterie and meat on the decline
Between April **** and April ****, volume sales of self-service charcuterie in France totalled ***,*** tonnes, down *.*%. All categories showed a decline, with the exception of culinary aids, which held up well at +*.*%. Several of the department's flagship segments saw their sales decline: -*.*% for cooked ham, -*.*% for sausages, -*.*% for salami and ...
2.2 Health, a major component of food for the French
Eating healthily will be the top priority for the French in **** when it comes to "eating well" (***).**% of consumers also say they want to cut down on ultra-processed products. [***]
The **-** age group attaches particular importance to this aspect of their diet, more so than the **-** age group.
Meaning of ...
2.3 Recognized brands committed to nitrite-free products
The self-service offer of nitrite-free charcuterie is developing mainly via major brands recognized by consumers. Herta and Fleury Michon, which represent the two biggest players in the French charcuterie market behind private labels, enjoyhave an aided awareness rate of over **%, while Cochonou and Madrange also boast a high recognition rate. Only ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Value chain
The players involved in the nitrite-free charcuterie market are the same as for traditional charcuterie:
breeders ; processors distributors.
Only processors have to modify their practices to implement nitrite-free preservation, which requires changes in product manufacturing processes. As far as distributors are concerned, nitrite-free ranges are still displayed on the same shelves ...
3.2 Producers and processors
Industrial charcuterie production in France
The number of French industrial charcuterie companies (***), has been declining for several years. It has fallen from *** in **** to *** in ****, a drop of almost **% in six years.
This is mainly due to the concentration of the sector, with large groups buying up SMEs, particularly when their ...
3.3 Distributors
Distributors play a major role in the French charcuterie market, with their private label brands accounting for over half of the department's sales by value, well ahead of Herta (***), the sector's other two main groups.
Market share of self-service charcuterie sales by value France, February ****-February ****, as % of sales
Given this ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Nitrite-free products
Nitrite-free charcuterie products do not contain nitrate additives, which are usually added by manufacturers to improve product preservation. A few years ago, manufacturers were able to replace these additives with nitrate-rich vegetable broth, which was then transformed into nitrite by ferments, but the maneuver still enabled the words "no nitrite added" ...
4.2 Prices
According to manufacturers, nitrite-free products cost around **% more to produce. The prices of items on the shelves reflect this extra cost, and often exceed it: the difference can be as much as **% for sausages. The variation also depends on other criteria: "the difference can be as much as double, depending on ...
4.3 An ever-expanding offering and ongoing research
A growing range
The number of nitrite-free products available on supermarket deli shelves is increasing as manufacturers develop their offer. In September ****, over a hundred references representing more than a dozen brands could be found on the e-commerce sites of Système U, Auchan and Carrefour. Thanks to its organic positioning, ...
5 Regulations
5.1 General regulations governing charcuterie and meat products
The "Hygiene Package" is a set of European hygiene standards designed toensure a minimum level of food safety on a European scale, and binding on all players in the food chain. It mainly comprises the following regulations:
Regulation (***) n°***/****; Regulation (***) n°***/****; Regulation (***) n°***/****; Regulation (***) n°***/****; Regulation (***) n°***/****; Regulation (***) n°***/****.
European Decree ...
5.2 Regulations specific to nitrite-free
The "no nitrite" claim
The Code des usages de la charcuterie, de la salaison et des conserves de viandes states that the claim "without added X", which applies in particular to nitrites, implies the absence of added element X. "The negative claim 'without X' (***). no X added' means no added... The ...
6 Positioning the players
6. Company segmentation
- LDC Groupe
- Herta
- Fleury Michon
- Aoste (Campofrio Groupe)
- Amalric GroupeIsla - Isla Délice
- Rovagnati
- Eureden Group
- Cooperl Arc Atlantique
- Carrefour Groupe
- E.Leclerc
- Auchan groupe
- Intermarché ITM Les Mousquetaires
- Système U
- Biocoop
- La Vie Claire
List of charts presented in this market study
- Sales forecasts for the charcuterie market
- Sales forecasts for the nitrite-free bacon market
- Sales trends in the self-service charcuterie market
- Market share of nitrite-free charcuterie by product (in volume)
- Charcuterie market share by segment
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Latest news
Intermarché, Auchan and Casino launch central purchasing group with Aura Retail - 25/09/2024
- 1. Completion of an alliance initially announced in April with a planned ten-year term between Intermarché, Auchan, and Casino (including Monoprix, Franprix), which are respectively France's 3rd, 5th and 7th largest food retailers.
- 2. Aura Retail will be organized into five separate entities, two of which will be based outside France. Main activities include the management of three central purchasing units for foodstuffs, run by Intermarché, with two locations in Massy.
- 3. One will operate synergies for nearly 200 national brand manufacturers, and another will aim to improve market access for European food manufacturers.
- 4. Aura Retail International Food Services, based in Brussels, will negotiate with major multinational industrial groups and offer synergies in several European countries (Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania and Hungary).
- 5. Purchases of national-brand non-food products will be managed by entities run by Auchan, including Aura Retail Achats Non Alimentaires based in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, and Aura Retail International Non-Food Services located in Luxembourg.
- 6. France's 4th-largest retailer, Coopérative U, wished to withdraw from the Everest European center, but had no official comment.
Cooperl slingers miss the mark - 27/06/2024
- - Cooperl sales: nearly 3 billion euros.
- - Number of Cooperl employees: 7,700.
- - Actual number of Cooperl members: 4,600
- - Number of regular suppliers: 3,000.
Agromousquetaires: how Intermarché plans to sharpen its industrial focus - 27/06/2024
- - 4.7 billion euros: industrial sales in 2023
- - 54 plants.
- - 20 logistics sites.
- - 11,000 employees.
- - 40% of Intermarché and Netto private labels are manufactured by Agromousquetaires plants.
- - 15,000 agricultural partners.
- - 200 sailors and 15 ships.
- - 12 supply chains, including beef, processed products, pork, charcuterie, milk, and more.
Coopérative U ready to double its 100% pork sourcing - 24/06/2024
- - Contract duration: 5 years
- - Partnership with the Porc Confiance association to strengthen the supply of 100% French pork.
- - Objective: to double supplies from 3,000 to 7,000 pigs per week by 2025.
- - Cooperatives included in the contract: Eureden, Agrial, and Terrena.
- - 100% of U-brand pork charcuterie (excluding specialties) is of French origin.
Food: Intermarché turns its 56 plants to fresh produce and vegetables - 10/06/2024
- Agromousquetaires is France's fourth or fifth-largest agrifood group, focusing on beef and pork with its slaughterhouses.
- 56 plants and sales of 4.7 billion euros, up 7% year-on-year,
- The group owns the last French diaper factory.
- The industrial division produces 75% for Intermarché's own brands (Monique Ranou charcuterie, Jean Rozé meat, Pâturages dairy products, etc.).
- The fishing fleet, the largest in France with 15 boats
LDC passes the €6 billion mark in sales - 30/05/2024
- Sales: up 6% to 6.5 billion euros.
- - Net income: strong growth to 304.4 million euros.
- - Poultry consumption since 2000: up 36%.
- - Poultry Division France :
- - Sales: 4.4 billion euros.
- - Growth: 5.9% overall, and 2.3% on a like-for-like basis.
- - Catering division :
- - Sales: 911.8 million euros.
- - Growth: 10.2%. - Volume: up 1.1%.
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The nitrite-free charcuterie market | France
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