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Summary of our market study
The French parapharmacy market is worth over 5 billion euros, and is growing by 5% a year.
The parapharmacy market includes over-the-counter personal care and hygiene products, as well as beauty, diet and nutrition products.
The growth segments are personal hygiene, beauty and wellness products and childcare. Hair care is in decline. Facial care products account for a large share of the market, with around 90% of French women claiming to use them.
Shopping malls and hypermarkets account for a third of parapharmacy customers. Between 15% and 20% opt for independent outlets. There are over 20,000 pharmacies in France selling parapharmacy products.
In the baby range, around a third of consumers make monthly purchases.
For suncare products, more than half of customers limit their purchases to once a year.
Parapharmacy market players
- L'Oréal leads the segment with its range of skin care, make-up and hair care products.
- Nestlé Skin Health, which has a major impact on the dermatological sector of the parapharmaceutical market.
- Johnson & Johnson offers products for baby care, skin and hair care, nutrition and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.
- Mass retailers (Carrefour, Auchan, Intermarché, Leclerc, etc.) play a key role as the main distributors of parapharmaceutical products.
- Sephora, Marionnaud and Amazon are notable competitors.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market summary
1.1 Presentation and definition of the parapharmacy market
The parapharmacy market includes all sales of care and hygiene products (for adults and babies), but also many types of products that do not require a medical prescription, such as beauty, diet and nutrition products, sun care products, hair care products, etc.
The parapharmaceutical market has evolved considerably since its emergence in the 1980s and the consumption of para pharmaceutical products has become more widespread by opening up to all distribution methods: pharmacies, specialist retailers, parapharmacies, mass retailers, and online sales.
This evolution is accompanied by an extension of the offer towards new territories of beauty. The parapharmacy market is growing rapidly in France, driven on one hand by the growing importance given to appearance and personal care, and on the other hand by the growing attention towards the quality of the care used (in cosmetics in particular), leading to a premiumization of consumption and valorization of the market.
The production in the country is increasing, with the most important sector being, in sales terms, the body hygiene one, followed by the hair care one. In terms of growth, the sun department registered the highest numbers, with a 4.8% increase in value and a 3.1% increase in volume.
However, the arrival of new entrants and the digital transformation of the sector create new challenges for the historical players in the market, giving product innovation an increasingly central role in corporate strategies.
The main players include L'Oréal, Nestlé and Johnson&Johnson.
1.2 The European market
The European market is very diversified in terms of players present on the territory. In Europe, there are approximately ***.*** pharmacies. The countries with the most pharmacies are Turkey (***).
France is right below the European average of *,***, with *,*** inhabitants per pharmacy.
Number of pharmacies per number of inhabitants in Europe Europe, ****, in ...
1.3 The French market
The French market for parapharmaceutical products reached more than * billion euros in ****, growing at a CAGR of approximately *,*% between **** and ****. [***]
National parapharmacy market France, ****-****, in billion $ CAGR: +*.*% Source: ****
Breakdown by types of products
Quantity sold in the personal care products market France, ****, in million units Source: ****
However, within the French ...
1.4 Imports and exports
International trade
Regarding international trade, we consider the data provided by UN Comtrade for Commodity code **** « Pharmaceutical products ».
As the graph below shows, imports and exports of pharmaceuticals products have been rising in the past few years, before experiencing a drop in **** caused by the pandemic crisis and its consequences on ...
1.5 Covid impact on the market
The COVID-** pandemic has had devastating effects on many markets and industries. Due to the nature of the virus (***) sanitary measures were put in place, the most significant of which were mandatory, government-mandated closures that kept people home and halted most economic activity.
Parapharmacies were one of the few sectors that ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 The consumption of beauty and well-being products in France
A large majority of parapharmaceutical products have a key role in the everyday life of customers: for instance, more than **% of French women use face care products (***). Most of the categories of parapharmaceutical products benefit from a strong usage rate, over **% in almost all cases.
Consumption of beaty, hygiene and well-being ...
2.2 Purchase behavior for parapharmaceutical products
When it comes to purchasing behavior of parapharmaceutical products, most of the customers shop in pharmacies/parapharmacies in a mall (***). Only **% of customers shop in an independent pharmacy/parapharmacy.
Preferred chanel for buying pharmaceutical products France, ****, in % Source: ****
Purchase frequency of baby products in parapharmacy France, ****, in % Source : Arcane Research Purchase ...
2.3 Demand trends : dermocosmetics and organic products
Dermocosmetics
The dermocosmetics market is very much in vogue: worldwide, the dermocosmetics market has more than doubled over the last fifteen years. Western Europe accounts for the vast majority of this market with **% of the world value, and France is the *rd largest market behind Italy and Germany.
Pharmacies-parapharmacies play a ...
3 Market structure
3.1 A wide range of players
The distribution of pharmaceutical products in France is split between different types of players:
Pharmacies Parapharmacies Hypermarkets and supermarkets Pure-players
Market shares per type of player
Market share by channel France, ****, in % of the market value Source: ****
Pharmacies remain leaders in the distribution of parapharmaceutical products, with **% of the market value ...
3.2 Online parapharmacy
Since ****, the sale of non-prescription drugs on the internet has been authorized in France. However, to date, only *.*% of the **,*** French pharmacies have an online platform. With the explosion of investments by mass distribution in the online drugstore market, this is expected to change radically, and the changes are already ...
3.3 Companies and employees of the market
The range of activities linked to parapharmacies in France can be quite wide, as it goes from selling basic beauty products to selling OTC medicine. To capture these different activities, we can use the following categories for the national NAF classification:
**Z Retail sale of pharmaceutical products in specialized stores **Z : ...
3.4 Geographical distribution
The following map shows the distribution of the companies relevant in the field of parapharmacies in France. As we can see, the Southern regions register the highest numbers of companies, and that Île de France registers the highest number of all. On the contrary, North-Western regions have a significant lower presence ...
4 Analysis of the offer
4.1 A wide and diversified offer
The category of parapharmaceutical products includes a wide range of different types of products. Among the main sub-categories, we can find:
Makeup Body hygiene: shampoo, shower gel… Deodorants and antiperspirants Fragrances Oral care: toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash… Body care Nutritional products, among which food supplements Face care and treatments: these are often ...
4.2 Pricing within the category
Overall, the consumer price index for Hygiene, beauty and well-being products has been declining over the past few years: the index peaked at ***,** in ****, and reached ***,** in ****. It is interesting to note that this decrease in Consumer prices happened despite an overall rise in the Production price index, growing from ***,** in ...
5 Rules and regulations
5.1 The regulatory framework for food supplements
The European Union has established a series of regulations, through Directive ****/**/CE whose objective is to protect the health of consumers and to ensure transparency of information communicated on food supplements. This directive defines food supplements as food items whose purpose is to supplement the daily diet, constituting a source of ...
5.2 The Cosmetic Regulation n°1223/2009 & REACH regulation
Regulation ****/****, known as the Cosmetics Regulation, is one of the main regulatory texts at the European level for the cosmetics market.
Designation of a responsible person
For each product placed on the market, companies must designate a Responsible Person (***). The Responsible Person can be the manufacturer, the importer if the manufacturer ...
Nomenclature and Harmonized System of World Customs
The Harmonized System is an international nomenclature for the classification of products. It allows participating countries to classify traded goods on a common basis for customs purposes. At the international level, the Harmonized System (***) for classifying goods is a six-digit code system. [***]
The HS comprises approximately *,*** article/product descriptions that appear ...
6 Positioning of the actors
6.1 Segmentation of market players
6.2 Les principales enseignes de parapharmacies
Ci-dessous est présenté les principales enseignes de parapharmacies (***) sont très présentes dans la distribution des produits de parapharmacie en points de vente physique. En effet, ces acteurs ont l'avantage de disposer à travers leur réseau d'enseigne de distribution alimentaire d'une implantation locale sur l'ensemble du territoire national, qu'ils ...
- Parashop Diffusion
- Nocibé (Douglas Groupe)
- Weleda
- Pharmavie
- Giphar groupe
- Elsie Santé
- Lemoine Groupe
- Sanofi Aventis
- Pierre Fabre
- Eau Thermale d'Avène (Pierre Fabre Groupe)
- NAOS Bioderma
- Pharmazon
- Pharm Upp
- Objectif Pharma
- Mediprix
- Hygie 31- Laf Santé Lafayette
- Docmorris DoctiPharma
- Atida Santé Discount
List of charts presented in this market study
- Consommation de produits d'hygiène, de beauté et de bien-être
- Canaux privilégiés pour l'achat de produits pharmaceutiques
- Fréquence d'achat de produits bébé en parapharmacie
- Fréquence d'achat de produits solaires en parapharmacie
- Parts de marché par type de distribution
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Latest news
Pierre Fabre sells its immuno-oncology research center - 02/09/2024
- - The Pierre Fabre Group has entered into exclusive negotiations to sell its Saint-Julien-en-Genevois R&D center to pharmaceutical subcontractor Jubilant Biosys.
- - The center employs 35 people.
- - The center was set up in 1990 and specializes in immuno-oncology, notably in the development of monoclonal or conjugated antibodies and immunomodulating biologics.
- - Jubilant Biosys, which employs 2,300 people in India, Italy and the USA, carries out contract R&D for pharmaceutical groups.
- - The site also included a 45-strong monoclonal antibody clinical batch production unit, which was sold in 2020 to subcontractor Fareva, and later to GTP Bioways, acquired by Italy's Olon.
- - Pierre Fabre is discontinuing immuno-oncology research to focus on targeted cancer therapies, with an oncology R&D budget of 100 million euros per year and revenues of 500 million euros.
- - The group has transferred all its research to the Toulouse Oncopôle, which employs 650 people, with 40 new hires in 2023 and 30 planned for 2024.
- - Pierre Fabre's sales in 2023 will be 2.83 billion euros, up 6%, with 57% generated in dermocosmetics.
Sanofi plans to spin off its Consumer Healthcare business in 2024 - 28/10/2023
- Year of separate listing of Sanofi's Consumer Healthcare Division: 2024
- Sanofi envisages savings of: up to 2 billion euros between 2024 and the end of 2025
- Presence of Sanofi Consumer Healthcare Division: 150 countries, more than 11,000 employees
Sanofi to spin off its consumer healthcare division and float it on the stock market - 27/10/2023
- Sanofi is a French pharmaceutical company
- The Consumer Healthcare division has over 11,000 employees in 150 countries.
- The demerger of Consumer Healthcare will take place in the fourth quarter of 2024 at the earliest.
- This division accounts for just over 10% of Group sales.
- In 2022, the Consumer Healthcare division generated 5.1 billion euros of Sanofi's 43 billion euros in sales.
- The Consumer Healthcare division posted growth of 13.7% in 2022.
- By 2021, the global consumer healthcare market will be worth over €180 billion.
- The market share of Haleon, the world leader in consumer healthcare, is estimated at 6% in 2021.
- The over-the-counter segment accounts for 90 billion euros, vitamins, minerals and supplements for 50 billion euros, and oral care for almost 30 billion euros.
- Its Dupixent sales approach 11 billion euros in annual sales.
- Beyfortus vaccine is currently marketed in 4 countries, including France.
Pierre Fabre Laboratories acquire a stake in start-up MiYé - 08/10/2023
- Start-up MiYé was co-founded in 2020 by Caroline de Blignières and Anna Oualid.
- MiYé specializes in women's hormonal well-being.
- The start-up distributes a range of 13 products, including 5 dietary supplements and 8 dermo-cosmetics.
- The Pierre Fabre Group also became a majority shareholder in Ladrôme Laboratoire in 2021, and sole shareholder in Même Cosmetics a year later.
- Pierre Fabre's strategy is to strengthen its brand portfolio by acquiring targeted stakes in companies operating in specific markets.
- The MiYé brand is currently distributed in 200 points of sale.
Sanofi inaugurates Europe's largest vaccine plant at Val-de-Reuil - 07/09/2023
- Sanofi's vaccine plant in Val-de-Reuil celebrated its 50th anniversary.
- Sanofi has invested 250 million euros in two modernization/expansion projects at the plant, which employs 2,200 people.
- It ships 600 million doses of vaccines worldwide every year.
- Sanofi has set up a new influenza vaccine production unit, at a cost of 200 million euros.
- Over the past ten years, Sanofi has invested 600 million euros in Val-de-Reuil.
- Sanofi plans to double sales of its vaccines division between 2018 and 2030, to more than 10 billion euros a year.
Sanofi invests $250 million in flu vaccines in France | Sanofi invests $250 million in flu vaccines in France - 07/09/2023
- Sanofi is the world's fourth-largest vaccines company
- Sanofi invests 250 million euros in its Val-de-Reuil site, Europe's largest vaccine production facility
- Sanofi has 11 vaccine plants
- 50% of Sanofi's production is concentrated in influenza.
- Sanofi increases influenza vaccine production capacity by 40%
- Sanofi's Efluelda vaccine is recommended for the elderly and launched in 18 countries, including 11 where it has been recommended by health authorities.
- Sanofi has invested over 600 million euros in its Val-de-Reuil site over the past ten years.
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The Parapharmacy Market | France
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