The kosher food market - France

In the Jewish religion, kosher refers to all the rules governing food as prescribed in the Torah. A food is said to be kosher if it conforms to kosher prescriptions. Kashrut regulates Jewish food in a number of ways, including the prohibition of certain animal species, ritual slaughtering and mixing. While sales on the global kosher food market are on the rise, with anaverage annual growth rate (AAGR) of 3.2%, the French market, representing 10% of the European market, is stable. The latter is a mature niche market, albeit a relatively young one (around 35 years old). Althoughthe Jewish community is the main clientele for kosher foods, there are other consumer categories, such as people of the Muslim faith or consumers with specific diets (vegetarianism, lactose-free, etc.). What's more,kosher certification is now a guarantee of quality for a growing number of French consumers. However, higher prices for kosher foods are holding back market development. Apart from specialized players such as the Yarden and Makabi brands, the major food groups are trying to expand into this niche market.