Market Overview

France is the second largest export destination for UK food and drink. It is a market with an increasing appetite for British food and drink.

Opportunities

• British food and drink exports to France recorded spectacular growth in 2006 (+11.1%) to reach £1.4 billion.
• The French market is increasingly open to British products and innovations. British expertise is well known and recognised for:
  - private label development
  - traditional classics (tea, morning goods, seafood, whisky, beer, mineral water, cakes, biscuits)
  - snacking and convenience foods
  - ethnic cuisine
  - confectionery

Market background

• Population: 60.5 million (2007)
• GDP: £20,828 per head (2007)
• Unemployment rate: 8.3% (2007)
• Inflation: 1.6% (2007)
• Consumer expenditure on food and non-alcoholic drinks: £1,587 per head (2007)

Trade environment

• Total food and drink imports to the market: £23.5 billion (2007)
• UK food and drink exports to the market: £1.4 billion in 2007 (+0.14%)
• UK share of imports: approximately 5.4% (2007)

Top 5 retailers by market share (2006)

1	Carrefour Group	25.7%
2	Lucie (Leclerc + Système U)	24.3%
3	EMC Distribution (Casino + Monoprix)	13.2%
4	Auchan Group	12.6%
5	Intermarché	12.6%