the craft beer market | France

1.1 Definition and scope of the study

There are three basic concepts that define a craft beer: the brewer, the brewery and of course the beer. The brewer is distinguished by his know-how and his traditional production process as opposed to an industrial process. The brewery is defined by factors of volume produced and of independence:

• Legal and financial independence from any other brewery;
• Possession and use of own equipment;
• An annual production of less than 200,000 hectolitres or 170,000 barrels;

Finally, the product is characterized by a simple traditional recipe and no filtration or pasteurisation.

The craft beer market in France includes hop producers, malt houses, hop importers, craft breweries, traders, distribution networks, supermarkets, restaurants, specialised websites, etc.

In France, the market is experiencing solid growth, following the footsteps of the American market. More and more breweries are opening everywhere in the country, and France ranks second in Europe for the number of micro-breweries and first for the number of craft breweries. Craft beer sales have grown by 20% between 2018 and 2020 and consumers are becoming increasingly fond of these new beers that are appearing on the market.

The sector is becoming more structured, and competition between craft breweries is increasing. Nevertheless, the strong local roots provide these breweries with outlets linked to a demand for authenticity and local products. Thus, more than 90% of independent brewers offer tours and tastings in their breweries.

The trends in the sector are towards organic farming, in a concern for "sustainable" consumption, but also to the diversification of a premium offer which is now aimed at a growing audience of young enthusiasts