SEAFOOD

While their consumption has dipped in recent years (2 kg less per person compared with 2011), French consumers remain very fond of seafood products. Each year, they consume an average of 34.5 kg per person, with 97% of French people eating seafood. This trend is set to continue, since 32% of French consumers say they intend to eat more seafood products.

As a result, France is one of the countries that consumes most seafood in Europe, according to the Kantar TNS survey for the Norwegian Seafood Council. Market turnover for seafood and freshwater produce amounted to €978 million in 2018 in France.

In general, French consumers are sensitive to the origin of products, their traceability - which is not necessarily a given in this industry - and labels such as organic, the Pavillon France trademark and MSC.

Furthermore, a substantial proportion of demand (20%) is satisfied by French fisheries, whose turnover in 2017 amounted to €644 million. This figure has remained flat in recent years. The rest is provided by imports and aquaculture, with the latter benefiting from an increasingly positive image among consumers.

Fish

The favourite fish among the French is cod, which tops the sales rankings in France, tipping the scales ahead of salmon. This fish mainly comes from Nordic countries such as Iceland and Denmark.

As mentioned above, consumers also like salmon (whole, in fillets or smoked), which generally comes from Norway or Scotland. This fish is quoted as “favourite species” by 26% of French consumers, and its sales rose by 5.9% in 2018. Salmon is followed by prawns (the favourite of 12% of the French), pollock (10%) and tuna (9%) according to a survey by TNS Sofres conducted in 2016.

On the other hand, the French are less keen on exotic fish. Sales of Nile perch, panga or tilapia began strongly when these new species arrived on the market, but the bubble has since burst. Most of these fish are more likely to be found in the frozen food sector due to their appeal in terms of cost and their lower bone content.

Shellfish and seafood

Sales of lobster, Dublin Bay prawns, scampi, oysters and scallops are particularly strong at the end of the year during the festive season. These high quality specialities, whose prices tend to frighten off most consumers during the rest of the year, are particularly sought after for the traditional Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinners.

These products are also increasingly considered as meat substitutes by consumers. They could therefore consequently be consumed more often. Still according to Kantar TNS survey for the Norwegian Seafood Council, out of the 36% of French people who wish to reduce their meat consumption, 41% would prefer to do so with seafood rather than with vegetable protein. In the coming years, the market could grow between 5% and 20% in value.

Frozen and canned products

French consumers appear to have a distinct preference for fresh products and are increasingly turning away from frozen seafood. In recent years, sales in this segment have declined severely, dropping by €12.9 million between 2014 and 2017.

Canned products, meanwhile, mainly relate to tuna, mackerel and sardines. There is a wide range of products available on the market, from the plain and unseasoned product to prepared, grilled and marinated products.

This market was valued at €906 million in 2016, according to Kantar Worldpanel. In that year, more than 93% of French households bought that type of product - nine times a year on average - with tuna topping the list (84.9% of households and €533 million of sales). Next came sardines (53.1% of households and €164 million of sales) and mackerel (48.1% of households for €145 million).