The glacier market - France

The ice cream market in France is a dynamic and highly appreciated sector . Historically, ice cream is said to have originated in China. It is said to have been exported by Marco Polo, who discovered it there during his many travels. However, it seems that Italians were already familiar with it in Nero's time. He enjoyed sorbets made from fruit crushed in honey and mixed with snow. Over the centuries, ice cream has evolved, and toppings have been added. The sundae, for example, was invented in the United States as early as 171. Around the world, ice cream is enjoying dynamic growth. New Zealand remains the world's biggest per capita consumer of ice cream, with 28.4 liters per capita per year. Artisanal ice cream is a sub-segment of the broader ice cream market. Artisanal ice cream is distinguished from traditional ice cream by a stricter adherence to a specific production process and use of ingredients. Generally speaking, manufacturers in this industry pride themselves on offering authentic, refined products, using local ingredients and production methods. As a result, the prices of artisanal ice creams are often higher than those of traditional ice creams. Artisanal ice cream makers are numerous and, unlike the global market for traditional ice cream, there are no giants dominating the industry. Instead, the players are small, numerous and highly diversified in their assortment of flavors. Overall, the ice cream market in France is growing rapidly. Artisans are benefiting from the growing interest in ice cream. In 2015, artisanal ice cream accounted for around 28% of sales in the overall ice cream market. COVID-19 caused a sharp contraction in the market during the closure period, due to traffic restrictions and a reduced influx of tourists. However, by August 2020, levels had recovered very strongly and even exceeded those of 2019 . Like the global market, France's market structure is fragmented . What's more, there is often confusion about what the term "artisanal" actually means, who can use it, and how it differs from "fait maison". This is why France created a certification in 2016, issued by the CNGF, which provides a label to producers who follow a set of rules and guidelines. in the future, it is indeed the ability of artisanal ice cream producers to distinguish their profession from that of the traditional market that will have an impact on sales.