Eating Habits: Improving the Appeal of Convenience Options - France

Published by: Mintel International Group Ltd.

Published: May. 1, 2007 - 73 Pages

Table of Contents

Issues in the Market

Definition

Consumer research

Abbreviations

Market in Brief

Convenience foods register good growth

The French have the highest usage rate for pizza and chilled ready meals

Unfavourable attitudes towards convenience options remain

Chilled products to soon overtake frozen products in ready meals?

The bulk of sales passes though hypermarkets and supermarkets

Ethnic and healthier products feature strongly in new launches

Further growth potential

Internal Market Environment

Key points

5-a-day for the French

Fewer courses, quicker meals

Restaurant-going is declining

Figure 1: Trends in eating out, 2003-06

Ownership of household appliances affects demand for convenience foods

Figure 2: Ownership of microwave ovens, freezers and combined fridge/freezers, by country, 2006

Figure 3: Trends in ownership of microwave ovens, freezers and combined fridge/freezers in France, 2001-06

Families are key targets for microwaveable and frozen foods

Figure 4: Ownership of microwave ovens, freezers and combined fridge/freezers, by demographic sub-group, 2006

The French spend least time at work

Figure 5: Trends in average hours spent on a working day on professional occupation (main job or other paid activities), 2002-06

Figure 6: Average hours spent on a working day on professional occupation (main job or other paid activities), 2006

Figure 7: Trends in average hours dedicated to daily amusemements, recreation and personal relationships (hobbies and sports, not TV), 2002-06

Growing food expenditure

Figure 8: French expenditure on food and non-alcoholic drinks, by type, 2000-05

Broader Market Environment

Key points

Ageing population poses a challenge

Figure 9: Trends in French population, by age, 2001-11

More working women is good news

Figure 10: Trends in French employment, by gender, 2000-05

Continued economic growth, but consumer confidence still low

Figure 11: Trends in French PDI and consumer expenditure, at current prices, 2001-11

Growing number of smaller households create demand for single portions

Figure 12: Trends in number of households in France, by size, 2000-05

Who’s Innovating?

Key points

Ethnic recipes go mainstream

Veggie ready meals to help achieve five-a-day

Improved packaging

Pizza à l’Italienne

Healthier soups

Market Size and Forecast - Convenience Foods

Key points

All sectors are growing…

Figure 13: French retail value sales of selected convenience foods, 2002-06

… but Government intervention has dented recent performance

The here and now

Forecast

Figure 14: Forecast of French retail value sales of selected convenience foods, at current prices, 2006-11

Figure 15: Forecast of French retail value sales of selected convenience foods, at 2006 prices, 2006-11

Factors used in the forecast

Prospects

Economic reforms

French have traded down, will they trade up again?

Nutritional claims

Appealing to older consumers with convenience options

Segment Performance

Key points

Chilled soup grows fastest

Figure 16: Gains/loss in value sales, by sector, 2004-06

Ready meals

Sales of ambient meals remain stable; frozen losing out to chilled

Figure 17: French retail value sales of ready meals, by type, 2004-06

Microwaveable products increase the appeal of ambient meals…

…as do more exotic recipes

Single-portion frozen meals are growing

Changing meal patterns

Frozen food generally has a better image in France

Chilled ready meals are the most dynamic

Pizza

Frozen products gain further share

Figure 18: French retail value sales of pizza, by type, 2004-06

Improved quality with new recipes

Soup

Chilled soup is the fastest growing convenience category

Figure 19: French retail value sales of soup, by type, 2004-06

Cooking sauces

Only dried sauces are growing

Figure 20: French retail value sales of cooking sauces, by type, 2004-06

Market Share

Key points

Ready meals

William Saurin retains lead in ambient ready meals, but own-labels gain ground

Figure 21: Brands’ value shares of ambient ready meals through hypermarkets and supermarkets, 2004-06

Most brands see sales decline in frozen products

Figure 22: Brands’ value shares of frozen ready meals through hypermarkets and supermarkets, 2004-06

Fleury Michon leads single-portion chilled meals

Figure 23: Brands’ value shares of chilled single-portion ready meals through hypermarkets and supermarkets, 2005-06

Pizza

Soup

Figure 24: Brands’ value shares of ambient soup through hypermarkets and supermarkets, 2004-06

Cooking sauces

Companies and Products

Findus

Fleury Michon

Marie Groupe Uniq

Nestlé

Picard

Raynal et Roquelaure

Unilever

William Saurin

Channels to Market

Key points

Hypermarkets and supermarkets dominate

Figure 25: French retail value sales of ready meals, by outlet type, 2006

Figure 26: Number of French retail outlets, 2001-05

The Consumer - Pan-European Overview

Key points

French are particularly fond of desserts

Figure 27: Use of selected convenience foods, by country, 2006

Primary produce bought fresh rather than frozen

Figure 28: Household expenditure on selected primary foods, by country, 2006

Ready-to-eat desserts are used most often

Figure 29: Household use of selected food products, by frequency, by country, 2006

Frozen vegetables register high weekly spend

Figure 30: Level of spend on selected primary foods, by country, 2006

What is in the European shopping basket?

Figure 31: The top three most frequently purchased convenience foods*, by country, 2006

Figure 32: The top three food products, by expenditure*, by country, 2006

The Consumer - Use of Convenience Foods in France

Key points

Trends in frequency

Figure 33: Trends in penetration and frequency of using selected convenience foods, 2002-06

Figure 34: Growth/decline in consumer base, convenience foods by product, 2002-06

Fresh vs frozen - poultry has fared worst

Figure 35: Trends in expenditure on selected food products, 2002-06

Figure 36: Growth/decline in consumer base, fresh and frozen foods by product, 2002-06

The Consumer - Attitudes towards Convenience and Quality

Key points

Less emphasis on saving time

Figure 37: Attitudes towards cooking and meal occasions, by country, 2006

Quality ingredients and gourmet recipes win consumers

Figure 38: Attitudes towards food quality, by country, 2006

Figure 39: Food attitude index, by country, 2006

Trends in attitudes in France - more time for cooking, but for how long?

Figure 40: Trends in attitudes towards cooking and meal occasions, 2002-06

French frozen food industry is the example to follow

Figure 41: Trends in attitudes towards food quality, 2002-06

Abstract

Convenience foods are growing strongly in France, although volume growth is generally stronger than value growth. Yet French concern about food and diet remains strong, and there are even signs of a slight return to traditional eating habits, and a rejection of fast food. In addition, government publicity about healthy eating, and in particular the campaign to encourage eating 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, is fuelling this concern. Manufacturers are responding to these concerns with new recipes which incorporate more vegetables into convenience foods.

Get Full Details About This Report >>

About MarketResearch.com
MarketResearch.com is an online aggregator selling over 160,000 market research reports, company profiles and country profiles from over 600 research firms. Our reports will provide you with the critical business and competitive intelligence you need for strategic planning and marketing research. Coverage includes the US, UK, Europe, Asia and global markets.