The frozen French fries market in France

The frozen French fries market encompasses all frozen French fries producers in France, as well as distributors, whether supermarkets or specialist stores. In addition, a large proportion of frozen French fries are produced for the catering trade. Frozen French fries are becoming increasingly popular, thanks to their convenient storage and preparation, and their low cost. Producers are capitalizing on this craze by expanding their range, offering a plethora of different cuts and elaborate flavors.

The global market, estimated at $39.96 billion in 2022, is booming and set to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% to 2030. Frozen French fries, usually seen as a side dish, but increasingly becoming a meal in their own right with the popularization of poutine and the variations offered by McCain, have taken advantage of urbanization and the development of fast-food restaurants to establish themselves as a must-have product of our time. Many international companies compete fiercely in this segment, but Canada's McCain stands out as the undisputed market leader.

The French market is also booming, but is highly dependent on imports. This has given rise to the "French fries" paradox: while French fries are traditionally very popular in France, and France is one of the world's leading potato exporters, it is heavily dependent on its Belgian and Dutch neighbors in the frozen fries segment. This is mainly due to the lower costs and more flexible regulations of our European neighbors. However, a desire on the part of the French to consume more locally is encouraging foreign players to set up in France, favoring northern regions such as the Hauts de France.

However, the sector has been disrupted by the global context, suffering in turn from the 2021 energy crisis and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, heavily impacting the price of energy and sunflower oil, a major ingredient in French fries. As a result, restaurateurs are having to cut their margins or raise their prices to adapt to these new obstacles.