The delicatessen market - France

Delicatessen refers to top-of-the-range food products, a fairly broad term that can encompass luxury items (caviar, salmon, etc.), regional specialties and rare products based on recognized expertise: dry groceries (condiments, spices, etc.), exotic fresh fruit, precious wines and spirits, top-of-the-range pastries, coffees, teas, sweet confections (honey, biscuits, chocolates, etc.), etc.), exotic fresh fruit, precious wines and spirits, top-of-the-range pastries, coffees, teas, sweet confectionery (honey, cookies, chocolates, etc.), and so on. A delicatessen product is therefore a food product of superior, or even very superior, quality. This market is booming internationally, with annual growth forecasts of 5-6% in the USA, China and India between now and 2025. In France, where the delicatessen market represents 15% of the global sector, forecasts point to growth of 3.5% by 2025. This expected growth is linked to the public's desire for higher-quality products (organic, labelled, etc.) and better consumption, particularly when it comes to food. The sector is characterized by its wide variety of distribution channels. Delicatessens remain one of the mainstays of the market: France boasts over 5,000 of them, and the number of consumers visiting these stores is on the rise. Generalist or single-product, independent or part of a network, more and more of these stores are diversifying their offer and services to offer more than just packaged food. Behind them, the competition is numerous: food superstores are now a major market player, while department stores, food artisans and small shopkeepers remain popular channels in the sector. E-commerce is also playing an increasingly important role, with both pure players present solely online and physical stores embarking on an omnichannel strategy.