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Summary of our market study
The French organic food market is estimated at between 12.5 and 13 billion euros, and is stagnating or declining after a decade of considerable growth.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Presentation and definition of the organic food market
Organic refers to a set of agricultural and food practices based on principles of sustainability, respect for the environment and animal welfare. Organic products are grown without the use of chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or artificial additives. Organic farming focuses on preserving biodiversity, healthy soils and ecosystems, and production methods that promote a natural balance .
Organic food products fall into three main categories:
- Fresh produce: fruit and vegetables, dairy products and eggs, meats, seafood, delicatessen, frozen foods and fresh bakery products.
- Beverages: alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
- Groceries: sweet and savoury.
Worldwide, the market is booming. Between 2023 and 2024, sales rose by 11.6%. What's more, annual growth of 11% is forecast from 2024 to 2034, reflecting the growing demand for organic products worldwide. Asia accounts for 60% of global organic production.
At national level, the organic food market has seen contrasting trends in recent years, with notable fluctuations in performance. Indeed, sales in the sector reached an impressive peak in 2020, posting significant growth of 12.6%. However, this positive momentum did not last, asthe market stagnated in 2022 and 2023.
On the production side, it is interesting to note that the total number of certified operators engaged in organic activity shows a general upward trend. Reflecting producers' growing commitment to sustainable farming practices, this number has gradually evolved, finally reaching 87,439 producers in 2023. This increase testifies to a willingness to adopt environmentally-friendly production methods.
In terms of distribution channels, it is worth noting that supermarkets saw a steady decline in sales between 2021 and 2023. This trend contrasts sharply with that of other distribution channels, which are seeing sustained sales growth, indicating a shift in consumer preferences.
Between 2021 and 2023, the organic share of household consumption also fell slightly, by 0.8 points. This is all the more remarkable given that 85% of French people say that the organic share of their purchases has remained stable or even increased. This perception underlines the growing interest in organic products, even if the figures show a slight decline.
Consumers justify their attraction for organic products by their desire to look after their health, a reason given by 57% of French people, while 37% appreciate the superior taste of organic products. On the other hand, among non-consumers, 75% express reluctance towards organic products, pointing out that their price is considered too high. What's more, 41% of these individuals don't really see the point, highlighting potential obstacles to wider organic consumption.
Lastly, in the foodservice sector, organic food is experiencing a positive trend, with a 9% increase in sales in the contract catering sector, and an even more marked 12% increase in commercial catering. These figures suggest that integrating organic products into the menus of these establishments could play a key role in popularizing organic food and raising consumer awareness of the benefits of these dietary choices.
1.2 World Market
The organic food market has grown steadily in recent years. In ****, global sales amounted to $***.** billion, rising to $***.** billion in ****, an increase of **.*%. Sales are forecast to reach $***.** billion in ****, representing significant growth of ***.*% over the period **** to ****. The compound annual growth rate for this period is estimated at around **%, reflecting ...
1.3 Marché National
The organic food market in France has seen contrasting trends in recent years. In ****, sales amounted to **.* billion euros, reaching a peak of **.** billion in ****, representing growth of **.*%. However, from **** onwards, a slight decline was observed, with sales of **.** billion euros, followed bya more marked decrease in ****, when sales fell to ...
1.4 The EU's place in the French market
France's trade structure is marked by diversified international trade. In terms of imports, **% come from European Union countries, while **% are imported from non-EU countries. As for exports, **% of goods are destined for the EU, and **% for countries outside the Union.
These figures underline the importance of intra-European trade relations for France, ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 Typology of demand
In France, in ****, the proportion of organic products in household food purchases remains low and continues to fall. Indeed, this share stood at *.*% in ****, but dropped by *.* points in **** to reach *.*%, one year later. This seems to contrast somewhat with the share of French people declaring that the proportion of organic ...
2.2 Organic purchases by the French
By ****, organic food purchases in France will reveal some interesting trends. Groceries remain in the lead with *,*** million euros, representing **.*% of expenditure. Fruit and vegetables follow with *,*** million euros (***), demonstrating theappetite for fresh, healthy produce.
Creamery and eggs are not far behind, with *,*** million euros (***). Alcoholic beverages take **.*%, while meats account ...
2.3 Reasons for and obstacles to organic consumption
In ****, the French are still divided on organic consumption. Indeed, **% of French people say that the main reason behind their consumption of organic produce is to protect their health, closely followed by the better taste of the products (***) and the fact that they are not contaminated by proximity to polluted ...
2.4 France's favorite brands
In ****, French preferences for organic brands reveal some interesting dynamics. Biocoop clearly stands out, with **.*% of respondents expressing a favorable opinion, showing a slight increase of *% compared to ****. This testifies to the strength of the brand. Bio c'Bon, with **.*% favorable opinions and an increase of *%, also shows a good trend, suggesting ...
3 Market structure
3.1 The value chain
The value chain of the organic food market can be broken down into several essential links:
Organic input suppliers (***): These players play a crucial role in supplying certified seeds, natural fertilizers and organic crop protection products. They guarantee the quality of the raw materials needed for environmentally-friendly agriculture.
Producers: Farmers are ...
3.2 Organic production
The evolution of the total number of operators certified for organic activity between **** and **** shows a general upward trend, underlining the growing enthusiasm for sustainable agricultural practices and organic products. In ****, there were **,*** certified operators, a figure that gradually increased each year until ****, reaching **,*** operators, an increase of **%.
This growth can ...
3.3 Organic distribution
In terms of distribution channels, hypermarkets and supermarkets remain major players, testifying to the growing integration of organic products in supermarkets, which attract a broad public keen to consume healthier products. However, the importance of specialized retailing, particularly in networks, underlines consumers' enthusiasm for dedicated outlets that offer a specialized selection ...
3.4 Institutional market players
3.5 Ranking of major organic distributors
Source: ****
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Offer typology
The organic food market is divided into three main categories, each with different types of products:
4.2 Organic supermarket prices
A survey by UFC-Que Choisir, based on visits to *,*** stores in autumn ****, reveals significant disparities between chains. Researchers analyzed the lowest prices observed, both in-store and online, for ** categories of organic products. The study revealed costs ranging from €** at Lidl to €*** at Monoprix. This price difference is even greater than that ...
4.3 Organic foodservice
By ****, the wholesale value (***) of organic products in French out-of-home catering will have reached significant levels, with *** million euros for collective catering and *** million euros for commercial catering. This highlights the growing importance of organic products in the sector, reflecting a general trend towards more sustainable and healthy eating.
The trend ...
5 Regulations
5.1 Regulations
Regulation (***) ****/*** of the European Parliament and of the Council
This regulation imposes stringent requirements on the production, labeling and marketing of organic products within the European Union. The main elements are as follows:
Certification: All products must be certified by an accredited body, guaranteeing that production processes comply with established standards. ...
6 Positioning the players
6.1 Positioning the players
- Biocoop
- Naturalia
- Danone Groupe
- Bjorg (Ecotone)
- Jardin Bio (Léa Nature)
- Lea Nature Groupe
- Biomonde
List of charts presented in this market study
- Organic food market sales trend
- Evolution of organic farmland, by continent
- Distribution of organic producers by region
- Organic food market sales trend
- Trends in organic food sales, by distribution channel
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Latest news
At the bedside of the sick, Danone invests in protein drinks at Steenvoorde - 22/05/2024
- The adult medical nutrition market is estimated at several billion euros worldwide.
- - Danone is number one in Europe and number two worldwide in the medical nutrition sector.
- - Blédina's Steenvoorde plant will manufacture protein-enriched drinks under the Fortimel brand
- - The total investment for this project is 70 million euros
- - Danone currently operates seven plants worldwide in the medical nutrition sector, including five in Europe.
- - Sales of Danone's specialized nutrition division are expected to reach 8.5 billion in 2023
- - Danone has invested in Turkey and Poland to increase its production capacity in medical nutrition, and has acquired Functional Formularies in the United States.
Compagnie Léa Nature acquires ABCD Nutrition's bulk business - 22/05/2024
- - Compagnie Léa Nature acquires ABCD Nutrition's bulk business to strengthen its consumer bulk business
- - Bulk market: 850 million euros
- - 2 million regular buyers of bulk products in France Bulk business growing since early 2023
- - Compagnie Léa Nature: 75 products under the Jardin Bio brand
- - ABCD Nutrition refocuses on gluten-free products and fresh bakery products
Danone bets more than ever on medical nutrition - 21/05/2024
- Investment of 70 million euros in a new production line dedicated to medical nutrition at the Blédina plant in Steenvorde.
- Danone's specialized nutrition division, including medical nutrition, generated sales of 8.3 billion euros in 2023.
- Growth of 6.7% for this division in 2023.
- Acquisition of Promedica in Poland, specialized in home enteral tube feeding.
- Acquisition of US-based Functional Formularies, with sales of around 27 million euros, specializing in biological tube-feeding formulas.
- Investment of 100 million euros in a new international R&D center in Saclay, to be inaugurated in February 2023.
Biocoop announces the end of the organic crisis - 08/03/2024
- - Organic prices are on average 50% higher than those of conventional products.
- - Sales of organic products plunged by 4% in France in 2022, and by 13% in major supermarket chains in the first half of 2023.
- - Biocoop sales grew by 2.3% in 2023.
- - Biocoop gained 2 points of market share among specialists, reaching 45% in 2023.
- - Biocoop closed 39 of its 298 stores in 2023.
Optimistic for the future, Biocoop announces encouraging results - 08/03/2024
- Organic cooperative chain sales: 1.5 billion euros
- - Sales up: 2.3% (+3.1% at constant base)
- - Volume contraction: 4 to 5%
- - Biocoop market share: up 2 points to 43.9%
- - Number of Biocoop stores: 739 by the end of 2023
- - Number of Biocoop employees: 6,600
- - Number of Biocoop store closures: 39
- - Number of Biocoop store openings: 13 - 87% of Biocoop's products come from France
Danone opens a second plant for plant-based products in France - 12/02/2024
- Danone inaugurates a new plant dedicated to the manufacture of dairy alternatives in France
- Danone has completely converted its Villecomtal-sur-Arros yogurt plant in the Gers department into a unit dedicated to Alpro-brand plant-based beverages. 43 million euros of investment
- Production, mainly of oat juice cartons, is 90% destined for Europe.
- Danone now has four milk-alternative production units in Europe. Two in France, at Issenheim and Villecomtal in the Gers region, one in Sweden, at Lunnarp, and the fourth at Wevelgem in Belgium.
- Vegetable-based products have become "a strategic focus" for the world's number one in ultra-fresh products.
- Danone took the t turn in 2017 with the $12.5 billion acquisition of US group WhiteWave.
- In France, ultra-fresh products are deeply rooted in diets.
- Plant milk accounts for just 4% of the traditional dairy products market by volume and 7.4% by value.
- The plant-based milk market is worth 165 million euros, according to FranceAgriMer.
- More than 6 out of ten people in France in the 18-24 age bracket eat plant-based products several times a week, according to lDanone
- Many dairy groups, including Triballat, Nestlé and Bel, have chosen to develop plant-based ranges.
- Retail chains are present under their own brands (MDD).
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the organic food market | France
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