The confectionery and chocolate market in France

In France, the areas of ​​chocolate and confectionery industries are two distinct areas: 

• The Chocolate Factory (consisting of tablets, sweets, chocolate bars, cocoa powder and spreads).
•  The sugar confectionery (sweets and lollipops made , chewing gum, candied fruit and candied chestnuts, sweets and small pocket and regional specialties and traditional).

The chocolate factory  The Sugar confectionery

M&M’s belong to the chocolate factory.

Manufacturing of chocolate and confectionery nearly 180 manufacturing facilities located throughout France. It employs over 17,000 people (66 % in the chocolate factory). The 2009 turnover is around € 3,66 billion and over 70 % are made by the chocolate industry.

We distinguish the semi-finished products (commodities for professionals in the production of chocolate products are intended for  export) and finished products (finished products for consumers, such as tablets and confectionery).

Among finished goods, there are shelves, candy, chocolate bars, cocoa powder and spreads.

For these products (finished goods), the turnover of the sector is estimated in 2009 to € 2.6 billion, against € 2,8 billion in 2008 according to the INSEE. 

Chocolate tablets represent 32% of sales of these products on the french market, then follows the chocolate confectionery which is 23.5%, spreads comprising 19.5% of the market and cocoa powder representing 14 , 3% and to finish Chocolate bars occupy 10% of these sales.

(source: Alliance 7, 2009 data).

The chocolate sector has nevertheless benefited from sales growth in 2009 on the French market for hypermarkets and supermarkets (85% of sales). This increase is mainly observed for the confectionery and chocolate breakfasts, and tablets

French consumption per capita has increased slightly over 2006. Its level is 7.4 kg / capita / year in 2006. It is still far behind that of Germany (11.4 kg / year), or the English (10.3 kg /year).