The beverage wholesale market in France

According to the Fédération nationale des boissons (FNB, the French beverage wholesalers’ federation), beverage wholesalers supplying cafés, hotels and restaurants (CHR) in France generate €4.3 billion in turnover excluding VAT. This segment of beverage wholesaling relies on more than 600 distribution sites, directly employs 15,000 people and supplies 250,000 customers. The FNB, the sector’s employers’ organisation, says it federates more than 70% of the companies in this trade.

In beverage distribution to the CHR channel in France, France Boissons claims 68 distribution centres and says it supplies one café, hotel or restaurant in five. The C10 group brings together 79 independent distributors, 230 warehouses and more than 92,000 CHR customer venues, according to its website. The rest of beverage wholesaling in France is shared between wine and spirits merchants, importers and regional wholesalers.

According to Eurostat (Comext), France exported €18.54 billion of beverages, spirits and vinegars (Harmonised System chapter 22) in 2025, against €19.81 billion in 2024 and €20.50 billion in 2023. French beverage imports also fell, to €5.64 billion in 2025 after €5.96 billion in 2024. The surplus reaches about €12.9 billion (calculated from Eurostat), a major outlet for beverage wholesaling in France.

In 2023, the trading margin of beverage wholesaling in France reached €7.03 billion, or 28.1% of turnover (calculated from Eurostat). Gross operating surplus in beverage wholesaling stands at €1.55 billion. The gross operating rate, as a share of turnover, fell from 7.05% in 2021 to 6.80% in 2022, then to 6.22% in 2023, according to Eurostat: higher activity is not enough to protect profitability.

According to the Fédération nationale des boissons, beverage wholesalers in France handle more than 850 million deposit bottles and 17 million reused kegs every year. Beverage wholesaling thus organises the collection of empty packaging from cafés, hotels and restaurants and its return to producers. The FNB has also created a CSR label specific to the profession, inspired by the ISO 26000 standard, to frame these practices.

A PDF report in French, 2026 edition, organised in six chapters: the trades of beverage wholesaling, market size and dynamics, demand from professional customers, players and distribution networks, regulation and taxation, then the outlook for the trade.

Eurostat’s business and external trade statistics, data from the Fédération nationale des boissons and information published by the sector’s distributors and buying groups. Every figure comes with its source and period.

Yes. The study is updated before it is sent, within 48 hours at most: it includes the latest published data, and every figure comes with its source and period.

Beverage merchants, wholesalers and importers, producers of wines, beers and soft drinks looking for a distributor, operators of cafés, hotels and restaurants, as well as buyers, bankers, consultants and investors who need to understand beverage wholesaling in France.

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