The sauce market - France

The global market for sauces, a sub-segment of the condiments and seasonings market, is growing rapidly, with a forecast increase from US$63 billion to US$80 billion by 2024, at a rate of 5.1%. In France, the national sauce production market has been growing at an average annual rate of 2%. Despite this growth, France relies heavily on imports to meet demand, with a coverage rate of just 44% in 2020. The market is characterized by different types of sauces, with a notable presence of organic and natural options reflecting consumer trends towards healthier products. The main players are Kraft Heinz and Unilever, who hold significant market shares in France and worldwide.

The COVID-19 crisis in 2020 led to a rise in sauce consumption in France, particularly for hot sauces, in correlation with the increase in pasta sales. Sales of cold sauces rose by 10%.

Overall, consumers are showing a growing preference for sauces that offer health benefits without compromising taste, a trend reflected in the evolution of sauce manufacturers' offerings.

The French sauces market: changing consumer preferences and growing demand

When it comes to culinary accompaniments, sauces play an essential role in enhancing flavors and adding variety to everyday meals. In France, the sauces market, a distinct sub-segment of condiments and seasonings, has experienced significant growth and diversification. The French sauces market has grown steadily over the years, reaching a value of between €615 and €630 million.

Demand for sauces on the French market can be divided into two categories: cold sauces and hot sauces. A substantial increase in sales was observed in 2020, topping the billion euro mark, with cold sauces alone accounting for sales of around 585 million euros. This increase is attributed to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which changed consumer habits in favor of meals-on-wheels and food deliveries.

Cold sauces, which had been relatively stagnant in recent years, enjoyed renewed growth in 2020. The variety of sauces, such as barbecue, burger, béarnaise and tartar sauces, saw an impressive growth rate of around 18%. The cold sauces most purchased by the French in supermarkets and hypermarkets are snack and barbecue sauces (22%), culinary sauces (11.5%) and ketchup (12%).

On the other hand, the hot sauces segment, which includes sauces for starch-based dishes and culinary bases, also saw significant growth due to the increase in pasta sales linked to containment measures. This segment grew by 12%, reaching 666 million euros in 2020. Traditional meat-based sauces declined in favor of healthier alternatives such as pesto, which saw a remarkable and steady increase, aligning with the rise of flexitarian and vegan dietary trends.

The composition of the sauces market reflects consumers' desire for quality, flavor, health and convenience. French consumers are increasingly attracted to organic, natural and less processed sauces, with a growing demand for products low in sugar, salt or fat. The industry has adapted to these preferences by introducing organic ketchups, plant-based mayonnaise variants and reduced-fat dressings.

Despite a clear preference for homemade sauces among some French consumers, the ease of use and variety offered by manufactured sauces is a competitive advantage. The sauces market continues to innovate, with manufacturers launching new flavors and products that respond to the changing palates of the French population, combining tradition with new tastes.

Dominating the market, international giants Kraft Heinz and Unilever boast a vast portfolio of sauces, satisfying the preferences of the most diverse palates and maintaining notable positions in both traditional and emerging market segments.

• Unilever, with its iconic Amora and Maille brands, holds a leading position, particularly in cold sauces. Amora, a brand deeply rooted in French culinary culture, is particularly renowned for its mustards and mayonnaises, for which it dominates sales with enviable market shares. Maille, meanwhile, brings a touch of sophistication and a wide range of mustards and other gourmet condiments, aimed at consumers seeking superior flavor and quality.
• Kraft Heinz brings American culinary influence to the French market, notably with its global Heinz brand. This brand is synonymous with ketchup, and is known for leading the segment through innovation and flavor diversity. In addition, Kraft Heinz enriches the French sauce landscape with Bénédicta, a local brand that caters to French tastes with an assortment of white and varied sauces.

Alongside these giants, a number of notable French brands are also making their mark.

• Lesieur, from the Avril group, are appreciated for their quality. With its emphasis on local production and sustainable practices, Lesieur appeals to environmentally conscious consumers.
• Panzani, under the wing of Spain's Ebro group, competes effectively by focusing on hot sauces such as pestos and pasta sauces that capitalize on the French love of Italian culinary traditions. As trends shift towards vegetarian and healthier options, Panzani adapts, emphasizing flavor and health in its sauce offerings.

Finally, the sauces segment would not be complete without mentioning the small artisanal players and private labels that add to the diversity, offering localized and niche products that cater to specific tastes and preferences. These small companies often emphasize natural ingredients and organic certifications, responding to growing consumer demand for healthy products. Collectively, these major players in the sauces market orchestrate a gastronomic symphony in the French retail space, each with their own unique strategies, product offerings and innovations, while balancing the desire for indulgent flavors with health-conscious trends. Whether spicing up a simple home-cooked meal or elevating a person's health, sauces are an essential element of French gastronomy

Inforamtion

• Number of pages : 30 pages
• Format : Digital and PDF versions
• Last update : 12/11/2021

Summary and extracts

List of charts

• Size of the global sauces market
• Size of the sauces market in France
• Structure of sauce production
• Market share of distribution channels in the hot sauce retail trade
• Sauce price index
• Main sauce-supplying countries
• France's foreign trade in sauces
• France's main customers for sauces
• Number of people using cooking sauces, by frequency
• Number of people using cooking sauces
• Number of French households using sauces at the table by type of sauce
• Comparison of sales trends for condiment and seasoning manufacturers in France
• Breakdown of cold sauce sales by value (in supermarkets)
• Change in cold sauce consumption by value
• Weight of the four hot sauce segments by value
• Market share trends for hot sauces
• Tomato sauce consumption trends
• Consumption of cold sauces by volume
• France's favorite sauce brands
• Comparison of the level of appreciation of 4 sauce brands according to respondents' gender
• Comparison of the appreciation level of 4 sauce brands according to age category
• Comparison of the level of appreciation of 3 sauce brands according to respondents' socio-professional category
• Market share in cold sauces by value
• Cold sauces market share by volume
• Hot sauce market share by value
• Hot sauce market share by volume