The mustard market - France

Mustard is a condiment used in regional and national cuisines, made from the seeds of the plant of the same name. While these seeds are mainly used in thefood industry, they also have a pharmaceutical role, partly responsible for an increase in mustard consumption at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is also why the global mustard market has grown slightly in recent years, led byAsia-Pacific with over 36% market share. This growth is set to continue, with an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 5.7% until 2027, despite some local shortages. [Businesswire] In fact, the French market has seen a clear slowdown in mustard consumption in 2022 (-10.8% in volume over the first 4 months compared with 2021), notably due to a drought wave in July 2021 in Canada and the current geopolitical situation (Ukraine being the world's 4th largest producer and Russia the 2nd). [LSA Conso]. But growth is set to resume this year, thanks to increased French mustard seed production. Nevertheless, the main players on the French market remain foreign: McCormick&Company (with sales growth of 26% in 2021), Kraft Heinz Company, Unilever (with its subsidiary Amora-Maille). Today, growing consumer interest in organic, healthy, short-distance produce is prompting French farmers to reconsider this crop. In 2021, the Charente-Maritime regional organic farming cooperative recorded 15 to 20 tonnes of seeds, a figure that is improving.