Organic food market in France - Statistics & Facts
After decades of rapid expansion, the turnover of the French organic food market has been decreasing slightly each year since 2020. This phenomenon can be partially explained by inflation and the higher prices of organic products, and Europe seems to be following that same downward trend. Despite this, organic food continues to appeal to a core group of environmentally and health-conscious consumers, keeping the segment relevant even in the face of economic challenges.
Other significant factors to this success are general health concerns, combined with an overall positive perception of organic foods. Rather unsurprisingly, the most purchased categories, and mainly in hyper- and supermarkets, are organic fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
The French organic food market has experienced a decline in turnover since 2020, largely due to inflation and the higher cost of organic products, yet production efforts remain robust. Despite a small decrease in organic farming areas in 2023, consumer demand for organic fruits, vegetables, and dairy persists, driven by environmental and health concerns.
Organic manufacturing impacted by the decrease in organic retail?
Naturally, as the demand for these products had been increasing, so did production efforts. For instance, the number of organic farms in France has been steadily increasing since 2014 and does not appear to be touched by the current decline of organic sales in the country. On the other hand, the agricultural surface dedicated to organic farming kept a steady upward pace up until 2023, when the organic farming area went from 2.82 million hectares to 2.77 million hectares.Why do French consumers buy organic?
Over the past decades, growing concerns about the environment have spurred the establishment of organic farming. This agricultural method of food production and processing, which is mindful of the impact of the agri-food sector on the environment, follows a specific set of rules. For instance, the use of certain pesticides and artificial fertilizers is forbidden. Likewise, meat, eggs, and dairy products must come from livestock raised under specific living conditions to be considered organic.Other significant factors to this success are general health concerns, combined with an overall positive perception of organic foods. Rather unsurprisingly, the most purchased categories, and mainly in hyper- and supermarkets, are organic fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
The French organic food market has experienced a decline in turnover since 2020, largely due to inflation and the higher cost of organic products, yet production efforts remain robust. Despite a small decrease in organic farming areas in 2023, consumer demand for organic fruits, vegetables, and dairy persists, driven by environmental and health concerns.
