The food supplements market - France (2025)

1.2 A buoyant global market with good growth prospects

PrecedenceResearch estimates the size of the global market at nearly $*** billion in ****.

They forecast a CAGR of *.*% per year between **** and ****, with the market expected to generate around $***.** billion worldwide by ****.

Global dietary supplements market size World, ****-*****, in billions of dollars Source: ****

Growing awareness of the importance of diet to health is driving growth in the sector. Changing dietary habits, combined with an ever-increasing desire for efficiency, are driving demand for supplements.

According to France's national dietary supplements union, the United States was the world's leading market for these products in ****, accounting for more than a third. Europe followed with **% of the market value (***). We don't have more recent figures for the breakdown, but it hasn't particularly changed in recent years.

Global market share breakdown World, ****, as a percentage of market value Source: ****

With a global market estimated at $***.* billion at that date, the European market thus accounted for $**.* billion in ****. While Italy is the biggest European market, along with France and Germany (***), it is the Eastern European countries that are experiencing the strongest growth. These countries, which are less advanced in their development phase, are naturally experiencing a greater increase in demand for these products, particularly plants and ...

1.3 A fast-growing national market

Sales (***) of dietary supplements France, ****-****, in millions of euros Source: ****

Observation of the national market shows very rapid market growth: from **** to ****, the market grew by **%.

Market share breakdown France, ****, in percent Source: ****

This growth can be explained by the French's increased attention to their well-being and health, with dietary supplements enjoying a positive image among the French. Naturalness, personalization and the health segment are very buoyant trends.

1.4 International trade

It's complicated to study dietary supplements as a whole, as this segment encompasses a wide variety of products classified under different customs codes. However, we can analyze part of it and look, for example, at trade in vitamins and provitamins, which make up a large proportion of dietary supplements and are grouped under the following code:

****: Provitamins and vitamins, natural or synthetically reproduced, including natural concentrates, as well as their derivatives used principally as vitamins, whether or not mixed together, and whether or not in any solution

French foreign trade was in surplus until ****, when, despite stable imports, the balance turned into a deficit due to a sharp rise in exports.

French foreign trade in vitamins and provitamins France, ****-****, in millions of US dollars Source: ****

The Netherlands is the leading importer of French vitamins and provitamins.

Destinations of French exports of vitamins and provitamins France, ****, as a percentage of export value Source: ****

Imports come mainly from the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and China.

Main countries of origin of vitamin and provitamin imports France, ****, as a percentage of import value Source: ****

2.1 Le vieillissement de la population française: Un déterminant essentiel de la demande

Les projections d'évolution de la population senior en France, entre **** et ****, montrent une croissance continue pour les différentes tranches d'âge. En ****, les personnes âgées de ** à ** ans représentaient **,* % de la population. Cette proportion augmentera légèrement à **,* % en **** et **,* % en ****, avant de redescendre à **,* % en ****. En revanche, la population des **-** ans connaîtra une augmentation plus marquée, passant de *,* % en **** à *,* % en **** et atteignant *,* % en ****, puis stabilisant autour de *,* % en ****. Les ** ans ou plus connaissent également une augmentation notable, passant de *,* % en **** à *,* % en **** et *,* % en ****, pour atteindre *,* % en **** et continuer à croître progressivement jusqu'à **,* % en ****. Ces projections révèlent un vieillissement de la population, notamment avec une part de plus en plus importante de personnes âgées de ** ans et plus. 

Projection d'évolution de la population séniore France, ****-****, % de la population Source: ****

La prévision d'évolution de la population de plus de ** ans en France montre une augmentation continue au cours du **e siècle. En ****, cette tranche d'âge représentait **,* % de la population. D'ici ****, cette proportion devrait atteindre **,* %, et elle continuera à croître pour atteindre **,* % en ****. En ****, plus de **,* % de la population sera âgée de ** ans ou plus. La ...

2.2 Les français et la médecine

En ****, l'auto-perception de l'état de santé des Français se répartissait de manière variée sur une échelle de * à **. Parmi les répondants, * % se considéraient en parfaite santé (***), tandis que * % estimaient leur état de santé à */**. Une proportion plus importante, ** %, se plaçait à */**, suivie de ** % à */**. Les notes plus modérées étaient attribuées par ** % des Français à */**, * % à */**, et * % à */**. En revanche, les notes plus faibles, */** et */**, concernaient respectivement * % et * % de la population, aucune personne ne se situant à */**. Cela reflétait un sentiment globalement positif mais nuancé quant à l'état de santé perçu.

Auto-perception de l'état de santé des Français France, ****, % Source: ****

En ****, plusieurs facteurs furent identifiés comme les principales causes affectant la santé des Français. La fatigue apparut comme la cause la plus répandue, touchant ** % de la population, suivie par le stress, qui affecta ** % des Français. Le sommeil de mauvaise qualité et les difficultés d'endormissement étaient également des préoccupations majeures, respectivement pour ** % et ** % des répondants. Enfin, la baisse de moral toucha ** % des Français, constituant ainsi l'une des causes significatives de la détérioration de la santé perçue.

Principales causes affectant la santé des Français France, ...

2.3 Un usage de plus en plus ancré dans les habitudes des Français

Entre **** et ****, la consommation de compléments alimentaires en France a montré une tendance à la hausse. En ****, ** % des Français en consommaient, et ce chiffre a augmenté à ** % en **** et ****. En ****, la consommation a atteint ** %, marquant ainsi une progression continue (***) sur ces quatre années.

Evolution de la consommation de compléments alimentaires France, ****-****, % Source: ****

En ****, on remarque également que le consommateur est davantage une consommatrice avec une part de **% de la consommation totale de compléments alimentaires réalisée par les femmes.

Consommateurs de compléments alimentaires selon le sexe France, ****, % Source: ****

L'âge moyen de l'acheteur de compléments alimentaires était également de **,* ans. 

Âge moyen de l'acheteur de compléments alimentaires France, ****, âge Source: ****

Enfin concernant la classe sociale, on remarque une consommation équilibrée au sein de la population française.

Consommateurs de compléments alimentaires en fonction de la classe sociale France, ****, % Soure : Synadiet

 En ****, la majorité des consommateurs de compléments alimentaires en France étaient des consommateurs réguliers, représentant ** % de la population. En revanche, ** % des Français les consommaient de manière occasionnelle. Cela montre une nette prédominance de l'utilisation régulière des compléments alimentaires parmi la ...

2.4 Parcours et critères d'achat

En ****, plusieurs critères influençaient l'achat de compléments alimentaires en France. Le caractère naturel du produit et l’utilité du produit écrite sur l'emballage étaient les deux principaux critères, avec ** % des Français les jugeant déterminants. L'absence d'additifs suivait de près à ** %, tandis que les conseils du prescripteur/vendeur et le prix étaient également des critères importants, chacun à ** %. La familiarité des ingrédients actifs était un critère déterminant pour ** % des consommateurs. D'autres facteurs comme la forme galénique, l'origine française des ingrédients, et le fait que la fabrication soit française étaient importants pour ** % des répondants. La durée de la cure, la marque, et la nouveauté des ingrédients actifs étaient des critères de moindre importance, respectivement à ** %, ** %, et ** %.cachat

  Principaux critères déterminants l'achat d'un complément alimentaire France, ****, % Source: ****

En ****, ** % des consommateurs de compléments alimentaires en France ont reçu des conseils préalables avant leur consommation, tandis que ** % n'ont pas bénéficié de ces recommandations.

Consommateurs de compléments alimentaires ayant reçu des conseils préalables à leur consommation de compléments alimentaires France, ****, % Source: ****

Parmi les ** % des consommateurs ayant reçu ...

3.1 Market structure

Source: ****

In the first stage, ingredient suppliers produce the raw materials, i.e. the nutrients, but also the flavors or colorants that will make up the dietary supplements.

from these ingredients, producers manufacture the dietary supplements. There are two types of producer: processors, who supply supplements to several companies for marketing, and manufacturers, who place the supplements they produce directly on the market.

These products are then distributed through various channels and consumed by the general public.

3.2 Production stages and market players

Stages in the production of food supplements

As a foodstuff, food supplements are subject to very strict regulations, laid down at European level by EC regulation ***/****. A declaration of first marketing has also been mandatory since ****.

The production of food supplements itself comprises several stages, the details of which may vary according to the type of product manufactured[***] :

Receipt of ingredients Storage: includes quarantine of products to be controlled before acceptance, storage of raw materials, work-in-process and finished products, and buffer storage Preparation and weighing: includes deconditioning, picking and weighing of raw materials based on the recipe, as well as material preparation Manufacturing: includes drying, grinding, crushing, blending, tarnishing, maceration, fermentation, percolation, pressing, extraction, cooking, sterilization, pasteurization, cooling, compression, capsule filling, etc Packaging: includes transferring, filling, sealing, crimping, heat-sealing and adding instructions Packaging labeling Storage Transport by the manufacturer

Market players

There are different types of player in this market, depending on their positioning:

Versatile specialists: present in both the slimming supplements and phytotherapy (***) segments. These players sell mainly in supermarkets at low prices. They include Juva Santé and Léa Nature. Juva Santé appears to be the leader in the sale of food supplements in supermarkets thanks to its Juvamine ...

3.3 Market competition varies by product type

Vitamins and minerals, which make up a large proportion of the dietary supplements marketed, offer very little scope for product differentiation. In fact, these products are essentially elementary molecules, neither patented nor patentable, which means that barriers to market entry are fairly low. For these supplements, the brand image is based more on the product's reliability and health compliance, which is assumed as soon as the product is put on the market. Laboratories' strategy is therefore similar to that applied to generic drugs, and competition for these products is relatively strong.

On the other hand, dietary supplements that are not based on a single molecule (***) give manufacturers much greater latitude to develop unique formulas. The freedom afforded by European regulations in this area gives manufacturers greater scope, both in terms of product composition and the way in which they present the expected results. These products, which are bought more on the Internet than vitamins and minerals, show less competition, and larger players.

Food supplements constitute a diversified market, with products ranging from vitamins and minerals to more specific formulations based on promises of action. This product diversity translates into significant differences in marketing strategies, competition and innovation within the dietary supplements ...

3.4 Magnitudes de la distribution

En ****, la répartition du chiffre d'affaires du secteur des compléments alimentaires en France se répartissait principalement entre plusieurs canaux de distribution. La pharmacie représentait la part la plus importante avec ** % du chiffre d'affaires, suivie par la vente directe à ** %. L'e-commerce générait * %, tandis que les magasins bios et les grandes et moyennes surfaces (***) contribuaient respectivement à * % et * % du chiffre d'affaires. Les circuits spécialisés en nutrition et conseils représentaient * %, tandis que les parapharmacies généraient * % et la vente par catalogue représentait * %.

Répartition du chiffre d'affaires du secteur des compliments alimentaires France, ****, % Source: ****

 Secteur Pharmacie : 

En ****, les ventes de compléments alimentaires en pharmacies en France ont montré des performances variées selon les segments. Le segment Vitalité / immunité a généré le chiffre d'affaires le plus élevé, avec ***,** millions d'euros, suivi par Digestion et Humeur stress / sommeil, respectivement avec ***,** millions d'euros et ***,** millions d'euros. D'autres segments notables incluent les Voies respiratoires (***).

Ventes en pharmacies par promesses France, ****, Chiffre d'affaires, % Source: ****

En ****, les ventes de compléments alimentaires en pharmacie en France ont montré une forte diversification selon les catégories d'ingrédients. La catégorie Plantes a dominé le marché avec ...

4.1 Product families and packaging types

According to Synadiet, food supplements can be composed of the following ingredients

Vitamins and minerals: Vitamins : Vitamin A for visual health, B vitamins (***) for metabolic functions, vitamin C for vitality, vitamin D for bone health, vitamin E for its antioxidant properties and vitamin K for the blood coagulation system. Minerals and trace elements : Magnesium, calcium, chromium, carotene, zinc or iron Substances with nutritional or physiological purposes: These are substances chemically defined as having nutritional or physiological properties, with the exception of vitamins, minerals and substances with exclusively pharmacological properties. Examples include caffeine, lycopene and glocusamine. Plants or plant preparations: These can be used in the form of powder, dry or aqueous extracts, or substances isolated from plants (***). The plants that can be used in food supplements are defined in French regulations by decree n°****-***. Essential oils: These are scented products, generally of complex composition, obtained from a botanically defined plant raw material. Novel foods: According toANSES, these are foods or ingredients whose consumption was non-existent or negligible in European Union countries before May **, ****. They are defined by European regulation CE n°***/**. They must have a new or deliberately modified primary molecular structure, be composed of (***) microorganisms, fungi or algae, and ...

4.2 Products purchased vary according to distribution channel

As we saw earlier, pharmacies account for the bulk of dietary supplement sales. They are particularly popular for products to aid digestion and transit, combat stress and enhance vitality.

Pharmacies also account for virtually all sales of most products.

However, slimming products are bought just as much in supermarkets as in pharmacies, as they appear to be less medical products and are more easily found in supermarkets. These products account for **% of supermarket sales.

Sales of the main types of dietary supplements, by distribution channel France, ****, in millions of euros Source: ****

4.3 Price and product examples

According to a study by MyProtein, the average French person spends €** a month on food supplements, the highest figure in Europe. The site does, however, include ultra-high-protein foods and drinks, which is slightly beyond the scope of our study, but demonstrates the importance of the French taking care of their health. It is difficult to give an average price for dietary supplements, given the diversity of products on the market. Magnesium cells start at €*.**, vitamin C at €** and hair loss tablets at €**. [***]

Prices vary enormously from one product to another, and we can find different price ranges.

From €* to €**: Basic products sold in large quantities, such as vitamins and magnesium. They are generally sold in pharmacies and parapharmacies, but also on the Internet. Examples include

Magnesium: Urgo Vital Magnesium B* ** tablets at €*.** For sleep: Forté Pharma Forténuit ** tablets at €*.** For stress: Synergia D-Stress ** tablets €**.**

From €** to €**: Rarer, more technical products that are generally consumed for aesthetic purposes, such as capsules to promote tanning or hair growth, or weight loss. Examples:

Self-tanners : Juvamine Self-Tanner at €*.** for ** capsules Hair growth: Nhco Effluvium Croissance et Vitalité du Cheveu at **.**€ for *** capsules Weight loss: Forté Pharma Minceur ** at €**.** for ** tablets Collagen: Raptor nutrition €** for ...

4.4 Trend: a recent broadening of the product offering

A market driven by innovation

The number of products launched each year in the dietary supplements sector is very high, a sign of the rapid need for product renewal, the expansion of existing ranges and the quest to conquer new segments and new consumers. Marketing, original tastes, made-to-measure cures: the new start-ups on the market are not hesitating to show their authenticity to make a name for themselves in the industry. [***]

Sports supplements broaden their targets

Whereas performance-enhancing sports supplements used to be reserved for top athletes and bodybuilders, they are now reaching a wider target audience. This target is made up of young adults between the ages of ** and ** who practice regular physical activity and are concerned about their diet.

However, these new consumers don't want to sacrifice pleasure for performance, and prefer food to dietary supplements. As a result, these products take the form of sports bars, powders and shakers/smoothies.

The rapid growth of the dietary supplements market is largely attributable to the many innovations emanating from this sector. Every year, a considerable number of new products are launched, reflecting the constant need to renew the offer, expand existing ranges and conquer new consumer segments. Companies, especially start-ups, ...

5.1 The European framework for the food supplements market

The European Union has established a series of regulations, through Directive ****/**/EC of the European Parliament, aimed at protecting consumer health and guaranteeing the transparency of information provided on food supplements. This directive defines food supplements as foodstuffs intended to supplement the daily diet, providing a source of nutrients with a nutritional effect, and marketed in dose form.

The main provisions of this directive include the following:

Annex I lists the vitamins and minerals that may be added to food supplements Annex II lists the sources from which Annex I substances may be produced Labeling and marketing requirements

This initial directive has since been amended by new legislation, to refine the list of authorized products. For example, in ****, regulation ****/**** added organic silicon to the list of authorized products, after a scientific study concluded that this element poses no health risk. The marketing of food supplements containing unlisted substances is totally prohibited.

5.2 Specific French regulations

In ****, European Directive ****/**/EC established a specific regulatory framework for food supplements. This framework provides a strict definition (***) and distinguishes between two groups: nutrients and other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect. It also sets out the procedures for labeling and marketing European supplements in Europe. Decree no. ****-*** transposes the aforementioned European decree.

In France, theOrder of May *, **** lists the nutrients that may be used in the manufacture of food supplements.

The Order of June **, ****, lists the plants, other than mushrooms, authorized in food supplements as well as the conditions of their use.

The order of September **, ****, establishes the list of substances with nutritional or physiological purposes authorized in food supplements.

5.3 Social security reimbursement

An article in Le Figaro reports on food products included on the list of products and services reimbursable by social security (***). The admission of "G-Nutrition" enriched bread to this list in July **** raises the question of more widespread reimbursement of food products, of which dietary supplements are a part, by social security. However, a number of obstacles stand in the way of widespread reimbursement. Firstly, the controls required to approve products as reimbursable are similar to those for medicines, which is costly for manufacturers who benefit from a less stringent control regime for food products. What's more, the existing reimbursement process for coeliacs, for example, is complex and daunting.

Ameli considers that dietary supplements cannot be reimbursed because they are not considered to be medicines.

However, some mutual insurance companies are beginning to cover preventive care such as dietary supplements, as noted by La Vie Naturelle.

According to a January **** OpinionWay survey, **% of French people believe that dietary supplements should be reimbursed.

6.1 Segmentation

• Juva Santé (Urgo Groupe)
• Vitarmonyl
• Arkopharma
• Forté pharma
• Vemedia Consumer Health France (Oenobiol)
• Galderma
• Les Miraculeux
• Apyforme
• Solgar France
• Laboratoire UNAE
• Respire
• Nutri & Co
• Foodspring
• Laboratoire Lescuyer (groupe Lehning)
• Vinpai
• Havea Group
• Glanbia
• Laboratoire Les Trois Chênes
• Nutergia
• Herbarom Groupe
• Nestle Healh Science
• Mint E Laboratoire
• Green Whey
• Nutripure
• Nutrimuscle
• Biocodex
• Nestlé Groupe
• Herbalgem (Inula groupe)
• Pranarôm (Inula Groupe)
• NaturAvignon
• NaturAvignon
• Eurospechim Nutrilo
• Strapharm (Naturacare Group)
• Codilab (Biofarma Group)
• Biofarma
• Herbolistique Laboratoires
• Nutrigee
• Nexira