The barbecue and plancha market in France

A barbecue is an open-air cooking appliance consisting of a grill or spit, traditionally using charcoal, and mainly intended for grilling meats such as sausages, kebabs, beef or pork ribs, etc...

However, charcoal barbecues have a reputation for being toxic due to the combustion of animal fats in contact with charcoal flames, which generates carcinogenic substances called benzopyrenes.

Today, the barbecue market is at the crossroads of global and national dynamics, combining sustained growth, changes in demand and structural restructuring. on an international scale, it represented 6.77 billion euros in 2024 and should reach 8.32 billion in 2029, confirming a solid expansion potential supported by changing lifestyles, the quest for conviviality and product innovation. In France, this global trend is matched by a contrasting reality: while the domestic barbecue market remains anchored at levels higher than before 2020, it is on a trajectory of consolidation after the 2021 peak. Foreign trade data also reflect persistent dependence on imports, with the trade deficit remaining high despite irregular growth in exports.

At the same time, summer consumption illustrates the importance of barbecues in people's eating habits, with a strong emphasis on festive products such as ice creams (57.6% for ice cream détente and 46.5% for ice cream bac) and fresh grilled meats (45.5%), confirming the central role of convivial meals. However, sales volumes of barbecues in France show an erosion of sales in 2024, particularly visible in the key month of May. By 2025, the market will be structured mainly around gas (37.2%) and coal (34.9%), while electric (23% ) and pellet (5%) will reflect gradual diversification. Nevertheless, recent trends point to a significant drop in sales of gas barbecues (-13%), while charcoal and gas planches are holding up better.

Against this backdrop, a study of the barbecue market must take into account the dynamics of global growth, the specific features of consumption in France, and internal shifts in the breakdown of segments, in order to shed light on the prospects for a sector that is both traditional and in the throes of change.