Eloïse Trenda
Research Expert covering global food topics with a focus on the French and Spanish markets.
Chocolate in France - Statistics & Facts
While chocolate is used in many industries, it is particularly prevalent in the food sector. Cocoa beans, which are essential to the manufacture of chocolate food products, are harvested by very few countries around the globe. Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), a major world player, is also the main supplier for French manufacturers. Cocoa beans are needed for producing various types of confectioneries sold, both in France and around the world.
As chocolate is part of the few food products that are universally appreciated, manufacturers are continuously coming up with new ideas and concepts for their chocolate-flavored products. Nowadays, choices are numerous and diverse: with variations in taste, shapes, sizes, or even colors, there is a chocolate product for (almost) everyone. As a result, these submarkets are home to a plethora of brands, all competing for the same prize: the heart (and tastebuds) of consumers.
Eating an average of eight kilograms of chocolate per year, French people say they do not need a particular reason to enjoy a piece. Even though it is the first food they turn to in times of stress or unhappiness, French consumers do still take into account many characteristics before making their purchases.
Alongside this enjoyment for products containing cocoa, yearly sales have, however, experienced a slight decrease between 2014 and 2019. Even though sales picked up in 2020, rising concerns regarding consumption habits and lack of sustainability are among the explanations for this development. This could also be one of the reasons why cocoa beans are the third most sold fairtrade product in the world: consumers appear to be searching for ways to fulfill their chocolate needs more responsibly.
As chocolate is part of the few food products that are universally appreciated, manufacturers are continuously coming up with new ideas and concepts for their chocolate-flavored products. Nowadays, choices are numerous and diverse: with variations in taste, shapes, sizes, or even colors, there is a chocolate product for (almost) everyone. As a result, these submarkets are home to a plethora of brands, all competing for the same prize: the heart (and tastebuds) of consumers.
Eating an average of eight kilograms of chocolate per year, French people say they do not need a particular reason to enjoy a piece. Even though it is the first food they turn to in times of stress or unhappiness, French consumers do still take into account many characteristics before making their purchases.
Alongside this enjoyment for products containing cocoa, yearly sales have, however, experienced a slight decrease between 2014 and 2019. Even though sales picked up in 2020, rising concerns regarding consumption habits and lack of sustainability are among the explanations for this development. This could also be one of the reasons why cocoa beans are the third most sold fairtrade product in the world: consumers appear to be searching for ways to fulfill their chocolate needs more responsibly.
