In this study :

Summary

The French supermarket sales of chocolate experienced a decline in 2022, with a 2.3% decrease in value and a 4% drop in volume, after a notable 10% growth in 2020. Despite these setbacks and ongoing challenges such as record inflation and rising energy and wage costs, the French chocolate and confectionery manufacturing market grew by 6.81% in 2022, primarily due to general price increases. The significant surge in cocoa prices has impacted the competitiveness of chocolate products globally. Nonetheless, investments in expanding production capacities continued, reflecting confidence in future growth prospects. The industry is witnessing a shift towards premium, personalized, and healthier products as a differentiation strategy from private label and multinational offerings. The sector saw a near 9% improvement in trade balance in 2022, with imports decreasing due to reduced domestic consumption, despite the highly negative trade balance of almost 1 billion euros. The global chocolate market is estimated to grow at an average annual rate of 3.53% from 2023 to 2028, with its value projected at $117.9 billion. European countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland are leading exporters of chocolate bars to France. Within the country, there is a steady rise in the value and volume of French household consumption of cocoa, chocolate, and confectionery products, with French preferences leaning towards dark and milk chocolates, and high consumption during holidays such as Christmas and Easter..**French Chocolate Market: Navigating Through Consumer Trends and Market Dynamics** In recent years, the chocolate market in France has shown fluctuating trends with significant growth spurts, accompanied by periods of decline. A notable growth of approximately 11% in chocolate sales was observed in 2020, which can be mainly attributed to general price increases as sales volume actually saw a downward trajectory. French chocolate consumers continued to face multiple challenges in 2022, such as surging inflation, diminished purchasing power, and even health-related scandals, which collectively led to a decline of about 2 to 4% in supermarket chocolate sales. Despite the challenges faced by chocolatiers, including record-high food sector inflation and increasing energy and wage costs, investments in production capacity expansion indicate a degree of optimism for future growth. This signals a need for strategic re-positioning and leveraging market research to identify new opportunities. A characteristic feature of the French market is the prominence of large multinational corporations such as Nestlé and Lindt, alongside numerous local artisans and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that sustain traditional French offerings. The French have been developing more premium, personalized, and healthier chocolate products differentiating them from private labels and multinational alternatives. 2022 witnessed an approximated 9% improvement in the sector's trade balance, partly due to decreased chocolate consumption leading to a reduction in imports. However, the trade balance remained significantly negative, with about 1 billion euros. Cocoa production, being heavily climate-dependent, is geographically concentrated in countries like Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, which together produce over 60% of the world's supply. Western European countries predominantly consume processed cocoa, and France's imports lead to a significant trade deficit in the chocolate sector, with major importers being neighboring European countries. The French chocolate market size has been generally robust, showing a steady climb from around 3 billion euros in 2018 to exceeding 3.3 billion euros by 2021. Supermarkets have observed a fall of about 2% in chocolate sales, yet the overall market size for chocolate and confectionery manufacture has risen by nearly 7%, reaching close to 7 billion euros. French chocolate consumption habits are quite ingrained within the culture, with almost half of the population indulging in chocolate products on a weekly basis and about a third doing so daily. Preferences for chocolate products vary, with chocolate bars enjoying the largest sales share in supermarkets, and spreads also being remarkably popular. However, it's notable that sales of chocolate spreads.### Key Players in the French Chocolate Market: A Blend of Tradition and Innovation As we delve into the dynamic landscape of the French chocolate market, it becomes evident that the industry is both rich in heritage and forward-looking in innovation. Here, we spotlight the mainstays of France’s chocolate scene, each bringing their unique approach to satisfying the nation’s sweet tooth. **Lindt & Sprüngli**: Simply mentioning Lindt conjures images of smooth, premium chocolates that melt on the palate. A titan in the industry, Lindt & Sprüngli stands tall with their irresistible range, from the iconic Lindor truffles to the beloved Gold Bunny that has become synonymous with Easter festivities. The Swiss company has long established a strong foothold in France, enchanting chocolate connoisseurs with their expertly crafted offerings and contributing significantly to holiday sales. **Ferrero**: Known for creating products that have become household names, Ferrero's portfolio boasts the creamy Kinder chocolates beloved by children and adults alike, as well as the luxurious Ferrero Rocher, which is as much a treat for the eyes as it is for the taste buds. As the leading manufacturer of Easter chocolates in France, Ferrero's dominance in the seasonal market segment is a testament to their innovation and understanding of consumer desires. **Cémoi**: Embarking on chocolate craftsmanship for over a century, Cémoi proudly upholds French chocolatier traditions while also embracing the contemporary shift toward upscale and ethical products. This family-run enterprise has not only captured the hearts of the French with its high-quality chocolates but is also looking to expand its appeal by venturing into more sophisticated offerings, especially during key chocolate-consuming holidays like Christmas and Easter. **Mondelez**: An international powerhouse in the snack industry, Mondelez's influence extends into the French chocolate market with its diverse array of products designed to cater to various tastes and preferences. With a focus on both widespread favorites and specialized treats, Mondelez is a key player that continues to shape the consumption patterns of the French public. **Barry Callebaut Group**: As a leading supplier of superior cocoa and chocolate products, the Barry Callebaut Group plays a pivotal role in the industry's supply chain, providing high-quality ingredients for food manufacturers, professional chefs, and chocolatiers. The group's influence is widespread, with its semi-finished products like cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and cocoa paste being essential components for a multitude of chocolate delicacies crafted across France. These main players in
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  • Last update : 18/03/2024
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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Definition and scope of study

French supermarket sales of chocolate are expected to fall by 2.3% in 2022 in value and 4% in volume terms, following 10% growth in 2020. The French chocolate and confectionery manufacturing market grew by 6.82%, this growth being driven by general price increases despite a loss of sales volume

In 2022, chocolatiers faced a tricky year, characterized by inflationary surges,purchasing power issues and health scandals, which created significant challenges for the industry. In 2023, many challenges remain, including record inflation in the food sector, which should lead to more difficult choices for consumers, impacting consumer trends at market research. In addition, energy and wage costs are rising significantly, requiring a reassessment of pricing strategies and targeted market segments.

At the same time, cocoa prices are trending upwards, affecting the competitiveness of chocolate products on the world market, and this must be taken into account in supply chain analyses.

However, despite these challenges, chocolatiers continue to invest in expanding their production capacities, reflecting their confidence in growth prospects, and underlining the importance of market research in identifying opportunities. It also appears that companies are beginning to adapt their growth strategies to new market conditions, integrating research data to better target their markets and customer segments.

Overall, manufacturing is still particularly concentrated in the hands of large multinationals such as Nestlé and Lindt. However, many French craftsmen and SMEs still manage to keep traditional French products alive.

In response, the market is developing premium products, which are more personalized and healthier, creating a differentiating factor in relation to private label and multinational products.

The sector's trade balance improved by almost 9% in 2022, thanks to a drop in imports linked to lower French consumption of chocolate. However, the trade balance remains highly negative, at almost 1 billion euros.

1.2 Growing markets worldwide and in Europe

Cocoa bean production is very demanding, requiring a warm climate all year round, as well as high humidity accompanied by significant rainfall (***). These conditions are best found in tropical forests. This explains why cocoa is produced in so few different countries. Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana alone account for **% of the ...

1.3 A French market with solid fundamentals

The chocolate market grew from **** to ****, rising from *.*** billion euros to *.*** billion euros. This market size has been established using data on Grandes Surfaces Alimentaires (***).

In ****, with the loss of household purchasing power due to inflation, sales of chocolate in supermarkets fell by *.**%.

Size of the French chocolate market France, ****-****, ...

1.4 A market dependent on imports

The balance of trade in chocolate and chocolate products is particularly negative, with a coverage ratio of just **% in **** (***). This reflects the French market's heavy dependence on foreign imports, particularly in the chocolate bonbon and chocolate bar segments. [***]

exports of chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa fell by *.**% in **** Exports ...

1.5 The positive effects of Covid-19 on the chocolate market

Sales in these three categories during the containment period France, April * to May *, ****, in % Source: ****

The health crisis and confinements have boosted sales of chocolate products. Indeed, the French looked for several ways to relax during the lockdown, and chocolate was one of them. Over the period April * to May *, ****, chocolate ...

2 Demand analysis

2.1 Regular chocolate consumption

Sales by chocolate segment France, ****, € billion Source: ****

In ****, chocolate bars will account for the largest share of sales, with **.*% of tons sold in supermarkets. This dominance underlines French consumers' strong demand for chocolate bars, which can be attributed to their popularity as an everyday consumer product. Spreads are also very popular ...

2.2 France's favorite chocolates

The French say they prefer some forms of chocolate more than others. Chocolate bars are enjoyed by almost */* of French **-year-olds. Fondants, moelleux and pains au chocolat are appreciated by over **% of the population. [***]

It is important to note that preferences change significantly with age. While bars are enjoyed by only ...

2.3 Chocolate and the holidays

An important aspect of chocolate is its high consumption during the festive season (***). The first two holidays alone account for **.*% of chocolate consumption over the year. [***]

In fact, **% of French people say they couldn't do without chocolate during the festive season (***). [***]

Breakdown of chocolate consumption by time of year France, ****, in Source: ...

2.4 Towards healthier food consumption

CHD-Expert has carried out a study on trends in French food consumption. [***] It identified several trends at work:

The Vegan trend, which is lived as a philosophy of life, concerns only *% of French people. The more general healthy trend, which concerns more and more French people. Consuming healthy food is becoming ...

2.5 France's favorite chocolate shops and bars

France's favorite chocolate makers:

The chart below is based on OpinionWay's survey of French consumers' favorite chocolate brands in February ****. These are the respondents' answers to the question "Do you like such and such a chocolate shop?" for each brand, with the percentage corresponding to the proportion of respondents who answered ...

3 Market structure

3.1 Value chain

Source: ****

Producers of finished products such as Mars, Nestlé, Lindt and Sprüngli source their raw materials (***) or caterers.

There are also producers of semi-finished products who, after obtaining supplies from raw material producers, produce couverture chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa butter and cocoa paste. These products are then sold to certain ...

3.2 Number of companies and number of employees

Companies in the sector

The number of companies making chocolate products continues to rise, from nearly *** in **** to **** in ****. [***]

Growth in the number of chocolate and chocolate-related companies France, ****-****, in units Source: ****

The number of employees in companies manufacturing chocolate products will increase by only *% between **** and ****, reaching **,*** employees.

Number ...

3.3 Chocolate distribution

Breakdown of chocolate manufacturer sales by type of customer France, ****, % sales Source: ****

End consumers are the customers to whom finished products will be sold, while semi-finished products will be sold to industrial and professional customers. The majority of chocolate sales, **.*%, were destined for end consumers, whether on the French domestic market ...

3.4 A relatively concentrated market

An overview of the market

It is possible to distinguish * types of manufacturers on the chocolate and chocolate factory market in France. [***]

Number of companies by size and number of employees France, ****, in % Source: ****

The main players are foreign multinationals (***), which have processing plants in France and abroad, and export their ...

3.5 Strategic changes altering the market landscape

French company Cémoi to be acquired by Belgian group Sweet Products in July **** :

Belgian company Sweet Products has acquired French chocolate leader Cémoi in July ****, following exclusive negotiations which began in May of that year. The acquisition aims to create a major confectionery player in Europe, with combined sales ...

4 Offer analysis

4.1 A wide range of products

An initial distinction between cocoa and chocolate products can be made according to the type of chocolate used to make them. The most common types of chocolate are dark and milk. They differ from each other in their cocoa, cocoa butter, milk and sugar content.

Source: ****

Secondly, these types of chocolate ...

4.2 Prices rising sharply in 2022 and 2023

Price index for sugar, jam, chocolate and ice cream France, ****-****, base *** in **** Source: ****

Prices for sugar, jam, chocolate and ice cream have risen very little between **** and **** (***). [***]. However, in **** and ****, with inflation in France and rising energy costs, prices for sugar, jam, chocolate and ice cream will rise by *.*% in ...

4.3 The premiumization of chocolate

Cocoa and chocolate manufacturers are undergoing a number of changes, notably with the development of organic products and premiumization.

The organic trend

Today, **% of French people consider the "organic" label to be important for chocolate (***). This contrasts with stagnant or even declining sales in the sector. [***]

As a result, organic today ...

4.4 A variety of suppliers

The French chocolate and chocolate-maker market is characterized by a diversified offering thanks to a variety of players, including big names in the industry, renowned SMEs, chains with convenience stores and artisan chocolatiers. This variety of players creates a dynamic and competitive ecosystem, offering consumers a vast choice of products, from ...

5 Regulations

5.1 Regulations for cocoa and chocolate products

Cocoa and chocolate products are subject to the regulations set out in European Directive ****/**/EC, which covers product composition and labeling. [***]

The regulations distinguish between * main product categories:

Cocoa Chocolate Chocolate sweets

The cocoa butter content of powdered cocoa is a minimum of **% for lean cocoa, **% for "sweet" cocoa and **% for ...

6 Positioning the players

6.1 Player segmentation

Artisanal chocolate makers are also an important segment of French chocolate production. Often run by a single person or a small team, these artisan chocolate makers are small, high-quality structures that do not aim for mass production.

List of charts

  • Countries' share of world cocoa production by volume
  • Market trends for chocolate and chocolate factories
  • 3 largest exporters of chocolate bars in Volume
  • French supermarket sales of chocolate
  • Volume of chocolate sold in French supermarkets
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Latest news

Grain de Sail christens its second transatlantic cargo sailboat in Saint-Malo - 31/01/2024
  • SME sales 2023: €10m
  • Growth rate: 18.5%
  • Volumes produced: 380 t of organic chocolate and 80 t of organic coffee
  • Volume growth: 20% -
  • Opening of second chocolate factory planned for 2025
Cargill invests 50 million euros and sets up R&D center in Loiret - 21/10/2023
  • 50 million euro investment in Saint-Cyr-en-Val plant
  • The plant produces Chicken McNuggets served in over 2,000 restaurants in France and 10 European countries
  • The plant has had a partnership with McDonald's since its creation in 1993
  • The plant employs 250 people
  • It supplies 70% of the breaded chicken fillets sold by McDonald's in France.
Monbana adapts its offers to mobile habits - 08/10/2023
  • Launch of a new range: September 1, 2023
  • Monbana belongs to the Buton group: Saveurs et Délices division Located in Ernée, in the Mayenne region of France
  • Monbana chocolate sales: approx. €40m
  • Growth: 15-20% (inflation and volume development)
  • Number of stores: 28 (including 14 directly-operated and 14 franchised)
Chocmod wants to impose its chocolate truffles on supermarkets - 31/07/2023
  • Sales 2022/2023: 52 million euros
  • Sales breakdown: 80% international
  • Annual production: 6,000 tons of truffles and 2,000 tons of marshmallows
  • Production sites: Roncq (Nord, France) and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (Canada)
  • Seasonal chocolate market: €700 million at Christmas, €400 million at Easter
  • The truffle segment is worth 6 M€ at Christmas
  • The company's primary market is the United States
  • 80% of sales at Christmas
  • 80% of sales are with truffles
  • 80% of sales are to supermarkets and hypermarkets (GMS)
  • This family-run SME is majority-owned by the Céréa fund, alongside Unigrains, Indigo and the management.
Chocolate demand rises with food inflation | Chocolate under pressure from food inflation - 21/07/2023
  • Sales of Barry Callebaut, a giant in cocoa processing, fell by 2.7% in the first nine months of its fiscal year.
  • In Europe, the world's leading chocolate-consuming region, cocoa grinding fell by 5.7% to 343,283 tonnes, the lowest level since the pandemic in 2020.
  • Barry Callebaut's sales rose by 3.6% to 6.3 billion Swiss francs.
  • This increase is attributed to higher cocoa and sugar prices.
Confectionery: Chocmod reinvests the French market - 27/06/2023
  • Chocmod is the world leader in the chocolate truffle niche.
  • The company produces 6,000 tonnes of chocolate truffles and 2,000 tonnes of marshmallows annually.
  • 85% of its 42 million euros in sales come from exports.
  • The chocolate market is divided between mass-market products (10 to 25 euros per kilo) and products from leading chocolate makers (over 150 euros per kilo).
  • Chocmod achieves 80% of its sales at Christmas and Easter.
  • The company is investing 1.2 million euros a year for three years in production facilities in France and Canada.
  • Chocmod expects to achieve sales of 52 million euros in 2022-2023, and is targeting 70 million euros in five years' time.

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Lindt & Sprungli
Jeff de Bruges
Mondelez
Le Chocolat des Français
Ferrero
Barry Callebaut
Leonidas
Cémoi (Sweet Products)
Chocolat Chapon
Pierre Marcolini Chocolatier
Cluizel Chocolatier
Savencia Fromage & Dairy groupe

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