Summary of our market study

The French frozen food market is estimated at around 9 billion euros.

The global frozen food market has grown significantly, with the European market holding over 35% of the share.

Europe is characterized by high consumption in countries such as Germany, the UK and France.

The market is driven by growing consumer demand for ready-to-cook meals, particularly among millennials. A report by Grand View Research estimated the value of the market at $177.07 billion in 2021, with average annual growth projections of 5.2% leading to $279 billion in 2030.

The fast-food sector, a major consumer of frozen ready meals, saw an upward trend of 5% in the out-of-home catering market in 2021 compared to 2020, but still down 11% on 2019 levels.

The pandemic has changed eating habits, boosting home cooking and demand for frozen foods.

Transformative trends in the French frozen food market

Despite setbacks such as the horsemeat scandal, which shook consumer confidence, the French frozen food market rebounded to reach around 9 billion euros. Almost all French households consume frozen foods.

Consumers are turning to frozen foods that require a minimum of preparation effort. This trend has fueled the growth of the ready-to-heat meals sector, which dominates the frozen foods market.

The fast-food industry, known for its intensive use of frozen ready-made meals, has become a major growth driver for the market.

The market is also driven by the widespread use of frozen foods in educational establishments, retirement homes and healthcare establishments.

Distribution channels for B2C frozen foods have been diversified, but supermarkets and hypermarkets are the leaders with 58% of the market.

Specialized frozen food stores are gaining ground, with banners such as Picard, Thiriet, Place du Marché and Ecomiam

Picard, in particular, has over a thousand stores in France, and Thiriet is the second-largest specialist retailer.

Technological advances mean that traditional freezing methods can now be abandoned. The hydrotreatment protection technique now offers an alternative.

Market players :

  • Picard: The undisputed specialist and market leader.
  • Thiriet: Second only to Picard
  • Place du marché (ex Toupargel):
  • Ecomiam: a big name in specialized distribution

Get all the information you need
to understand this market

Detailed content of our market study

Inforamtion

  • Number of pages : ~ 40 pages
  • Format : Digital and PDF versions
  • Last update :
Update Details

Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Presentation and definition

Deep-freezing is the process of rapidly lowering the temperature of a foodstuff, while still fresh and wholesome, to -18°C at the core. Freezing, a similar but less efficient process, offers less rapid cooling.

There are several techniques for freezing a product:

  • Contact freezing, reserved for thin foods (fish fillets, for example), is achieved by introducing the food between two plates through which a fluid circulates at -35°C.
  • The forced-air circulation technique, better suited to smaller products such as vegetables, involves placing products in tunnels where freezing air (-35°C) circulates rapidly.
  • The immersion method, adapted to irregularly-shaped products, involves immersing the food in a fluid at a very low temperature, such as liquid nitrogen.
  • IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) involves immersing foodstuffs in a liquid gas. More expensive, it is better suited to fragile products.

These complex industrial techniques mean that the core temperature of products must always be maintained below -18°C, which presents distributors with a real technical challenge.

This study on frozen products will focus on the different market segments, business-to-business and business-to-consumer, and the different forms they can take. Regarding B2C trade, the GSA (Grandes Surfaces Alimentaires) is in the lead, with total sales of 2.4 billion euros in 2021, compared with 921.2 million euros for specialist chains. [LSA]

1.2 The global market

According to a study by Grand View Research, the global frozen food market is estimated at $***.** billion in ****. Average annual growth is expected to be *.*% between **** and ****, generating sales of $*** billion by ****. The creation of supermarkets and hypermarkets has driven market growth in recent years.

The trend in frozen food market ...

1.3 The French frozen food market

The frozen food market has been particularly turbulent in recent years following the horsemeat scandal from the Spanghero factory. It turned out that Findus had been selling products labeled "pure beef" when they were made from horsemeat. The ensuing investigation revealed the weaknesses of meat traceability in Europe and eroded consumer ...

1.4 Foreign trade

Given the variety of frozen products on the market, in this category, we focus on foreign trade in frozen beef, one of the most critical segments of the European frozen food market.

Using the UN Comtrade website, it is therefore possible to obtain the graph below corresponding to foreign trade associated ...

1.5 Covid-19 pandemic boosts frozen food market

The Covid-** crisis has positively impacted the frozen food market in France. Indeed, with government-imposed restrictions such as confinement and restaurant closures, the French have been led to spend more time at home, turning to frozen foods to facilitate their daily diet.

More specifically, the sweet frozen food segment saw its ...

2 Demand analysis

2.1 Fast food, a growth driver for frozen ready meals

The fast food market growth drives demand for frozen products, mainly frozen-ready meals. With increasingly busy lifestyles, consumers are looking for practical solutions for their meals. Frozen ready meals offer a quick and convenient option while allowing consumers to control ingredients and choose healthier options. This trend is contributing to the ...

2.2 Foodservices

Another demand segment, Business to Business this time, is the sale of frozen products to catering establishments. These include :

Educational establishments Retirement homes and social establishments Companies and government bodies Hospitals and health establishments Catering

Education

There will also be a slight increase in the number of public and private secondary ...

2.3 Traditional catering

Restaurants can call on wholesalers for frozen food deliveries as part of their B*B business.

Trends in French household consumption of catering services

The graphs below illustrate several indicators representative of the traditional food service market (***).

Number of businesses registered under NAF code ****A (***) France, ****-****, in number of establishments Source: ...

3 Market structure

3.1 BtoC distribution - Food superstores

The business-to-consumer segment corresponds to the distribution between a company and a consumer.

A survey carried out by YouGov in **** gives an idea of the distribution channels for frozen foods preferred by the French.

Answer to the question "Which retailer do you usually buy your frozen food from?" France, ****, in Source: ...

3.2 B2C distribution - specialized channels

Among the most important are Picard, Thiriet, and Ecomiam. [***]

Picard

Picard, with its *,*** stores in France, remains the undisputed leader in the specialist retail channel,by the beginning of ****, Picard will have *,*** stores. The company achieved sales of *.* billion euros in ****, a figure stable compared with previous years. Picard also has ...

3.3 Business to Business distribution

Business-to-business distribution, which involves the delivery of frozen products between two companies, accounted for **% of the frozen food market in **** according to Unigrains data. This type of distribution can occur between a frozen food manufacturer (***).

Gira Foodservice has collected data on this distribution segment. This data dates back to **** but gives ...

4 Offer analysis

4.1 Frozen products on the market

To build an overview of the frozen food offer, we can analyze the request of Picarda specialized retailer. The company distinguishes between :

fruit and vegetables meat and poultry fish and shellfish

These dishes can be sold in various forms:

aperitifs starters, tarts, and salads ready-made meals breads and pastries pastries ice ...

4.2 Low prices and frozen food prices

Prices for private customers

By analyzing prices of Picard products, we can establish that they are :

between *.** euros and * euros for vegetables ; between *.** euros and * euros for fruit; between * euros and * euros for meat and fish products.

Prices for food professionals

When selling frozen products to food professionals, it is essential ...

4.3 Towards the obsolescence of deep-freezing?

Hydroprocessing protection: a revolution?

Agro Media notes that advances have been made in food preservation recently. For example, the Centre de Développement Bioalimentaire du Québec has developed a new food preservation process: the "hydroprocess de protection," or HPP for short.

HPP involves vacuum-packing pressure-resistant foods and subjecting them to ...

5 Regulations

5.1 Respecting the cold chain

All players in the frozen food market (***) are obliged to respect the cold chain, i.e., to ensure that frozen foods are kept at a negative temperature that complies with regulations. The core temperature must always be below -**°C and the ambient temperature between -**°C and -**°C. This ...

6 Positioning the players

6.1 Segmentation

The following segmentation is used:

  • Auchan groupe
  • Picard Surgelés
  • Place du Marche (Toupargel)
  • Thiriet
  • Maximo
  • Pomona Groupe (Passion Froid)
  • Sysco Groupe - Davigel
  • Transgourmet France
  • Martin-Brower France
  • Orly Gel
  • M&M Quality Food
  • Ecomiam
  • Boncolac
  • Bonduelle Groupe
  • Ajinomoto
  • Escal Sea Food
  • Carrefour Groupe
  • E.Leclerc
  • Findus France
  • Fleury Michon
  • Iglo (Nomad foods)
  • McCain Food
  • Sodebo
  • Cargill France
  • Routhiau Groupe
  • Traiteurs de Paris

List of charts presented in this market study

  • Trends in frozen food market size
  • Breakdown of frozen food market size by product type
  • Sales (excl. VAT) of frozen food retailers
  • Fast food sales (NAF code 56.10C)
  • Answers to the question "At work, where do you eat most often?"
Show more Hide

All our studies are available online in PDF format

Take a look at an example of our research on another market!

Do you have a question about this study?   +44 238 097 0676

Latest news

Bonduelle sells its bagged salads in France and Germany - 30/08/2024
  • Bonduelle's total sales for the year ending June: 2.4 billion euros.
  • Percentage of sales represented by the global bagged salad business sold: 7%.
  • Sale of 65% of US canned vegetables and Long Life frozen foods business in 2022: 625 million euros.
Bonduelle: cool weather to penalize sales in 2023-2024 - 06/08/2024

- Bonduelle sales for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024: 2.372 billion euros.

Picard creates an observatory dedicated to the food of tomorrow. - 21/06/2024
  • - 68% of French people believe that eating seasonal produce is the key to healthy eating.
  • - 42% of French people see homemade food as a solution to eating better.
  • - 48% of French people prefer seasonal fruit and vegetables.
  • - 46% of French people prefer fresh, local produce.
  • - Over a third of French people use frozen foods to eat more fruit and vegetables every day.
  • - 50% of French people adopt a more balanced diet for weight reasons.
  • - Only 22% of French people make the connection between their diet and their level of immunity, and 11% with their psychological state.
  • - 22% of those surveyed consider that eating well means eating organic or pesticide residue-free products.
  • - 17% prefer Nutri-score A and B or label products.
  • - 46% of 18-24 year-olds cite lack of time as an obstacle to eating well.
  • - 53% of French people see frozen products as a quick and economical way to eat a balanced diet.
  • - 20% of those surveyed perceive frozen products as being of lower quality than fresh.
  • - 57% of French people want brands committed to products from local agriculture
  • - 44% of French people want brands to pay producers well.
Picard, the best recipes from the king of frozen foods - 20/05/2024
  • - Freezers in over 90% of homes today
  • - Picard's EY Parthenon ranking: fourth place, behind Action, Décathlon and Leroy Merlin.
  • - Number of Picard outlets: over 1,000.
  • - Percentage of Picard capital held by the Zouari family since 2019: 49%, with a call option to increase their stake to a further 51% held by British fund Lion Capital.
Jean-Noël Darniche, new General Manager of Bonduelle Fresh France - 23/04/2024
  • **Bonduelle Fresh sales**: €110 million
  • - **Number of production sites**: 4
  • - **Number of employees**: Nearly 600
  • - **Types of activity**: Own-brand, private label and out-of-home catering
  • - **Specialized in delicatessen salads with the takeover of Caugant in 2003
Fleury Michon, the king of ham, bets on plant-based products with vegetable slices - 28/03/2024
  • - Fleury Michon sales: 795 million euros.
  • - Products offered: three legume-based products (coral lentils, chickpeas, white beans)
  • - Target market: 50% of consumers in France claim to be flexitarians.
  • - Annual decline in the pork ham market: 2% to 3% in volume since 2015
  • - Estimated supermarket delicatessen market for plant-based products: close to 150 million euros, up by around 3% in volume.
  • fleury Michon's "nitrite-free" market share: 62% of sales.

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. :

Auchan groupe
Picard Surgelés
Place du Marche (Toupargel)
Thiriet
Maximo
Pomona Groupe (Passion Froid)
Sysco Groupe - Davigel
Transgourmet France
Martin-Brower France
Orly Gel
M&M Quality Food
Ecomiam

Choosing this study means :

Access to more than 35 hours of work

Our studies are the result of over 35 hours of research and analysis. Using our studies allows you to devote more time and added value to your projects.

Benefit from 6 years' experience and over 1,500 industry reports already produced

Our expertise enables us to produce comprehensive studies in all sectors, including niche and emerging markets.

Our know-how and methodology enable us to produce reports that offer unique value for money.

Access to several thousand articles and paid-for data

Businesscoot has access to all the paid economic press as well as exclusive databases to carry out its market research (over 30,000 articles and private sources).

To enhance our research, our analysts also use web indicators (semrush, trends, etc.) to identify market trends and company strategies. (Consult our paying sources)

Guaranteed support after your purchase

A team dedicated to after-sales service, to guarantee you a high level of satisfaction. +44 238 097 0676

A digital format designed for our users

Not only do you have access to a PDF, but also to a digital version designed for our customers. This version gives you access to sources, data in Excel format and graphics. The content of the study can therefore be easily retrieved and adapted for your specific needs.

Our offers :

the frozen food market | France

99 €
  • What are the figures on the size and growth of the market?
  • What is driving the growth of the market and its evolution?
  • What is the positioning of companies in the value chain?
  • Data from several dozen databases

Pack 5 études (-15%) France

75.6 € / study
378 € instead of 445 € -15%
  • 5 études au prix de 75,6€HT par étude à choisir parmi nos 800 titres sur le catalogue France pendant 12 mois
  • Conservez -15% sur les études supplémentaires achetées
  • Choisissez le remboursement des crédits non consommés au terme des 12 mois (durée du pack)

Consultez les conditions du pack et de remboursement des crédits non consommés.

Updates

Do you have a question ?
Our team is at your disposal at   +44 238 097 0676