The potato chip market in France

Chips, also known as potato chips, are thin slices of vegetable fried in oil, most often with potatoes, but sometimes with roots or vegetables. Very low in nutrients, but high in calories, they are a snack food, served as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to a meal. They come in a variety of flavors, thicknesses and shapes. Chips, which were originally a gourmet dish invented in the 19ᵉ century, were popularized in the early 20ᵉ century thanks to the arrival of two technological innovations: the potato peeling machine and the hermetically sealed bag. Production developed first in the United States, then gradually in Europe. In the 50s, flavored and spicy potato chips were gradually introduced to the market, followed in the 90s by increasingly light, low-fat potato chips. [Alimentarium; Madehow] Some studies differentiate between Pringles and potato chips, but we decided to include Pringles in our scope of study.

The global market for potato chips is booming, and is expected to grow by 5.6% between 2024 and 2029. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing market, but North America remains the largest, thanks in particular to the USA, the world's biggest consumer. While potato chips show no signs of waning in popularity, the range continues to diversify and integrate public health concerns into its production. The trend is towards low-fat foods and low-calorie potato chips to satisfy consumer demand. [Mordor Intelligence]

In France, the sharp rise in potato prices over the past two years and the economic choices made by potato companies have pushed up the price of a packet of potato potato chips by an average of 40%, although this has not led to a drop in sales. The main trend observed is an increasing demand for 100% French products, which is having a major influence on the current market. French consumers' marked preference for flavored potato chips over plain tastes is also strongly reflected in recent market trends. [APIBusiness]