Organic
Opportunities in the French Supermarket Sector
As noted ina recent
French press article (centrist Les Echos, 3/8/00),
organic foods are a specific market segment in French
supermarkets, but production is insufficient for
supermarkets to meet demand. Since increased production
of organics in France started only in 1997, low supplies
mean that France must import more than a third of its
organic food products. These come mainly from Germany and
Italy. As a result, French imports of organic food
products have risen steadily by 20 percent since 1993,
reaching 30,000 tons.
The moment is right for U.S.
suppliers who can supply high quality products at a
reasonable price (keeping in mind the currency weakness
of the Euro) to penetrate the French market. According to
FAS’s AgOffice Paris, best prospects include grains,
almonds, pistachios, dried fruits, flour, tropical
fruits, milk and organic proteins for animal feed. A
promotional campaign: "Le printemps bio"
(Spring Organics), organized by the different operators
in the organic sector, will take place in France May
20-27. This promotional campaign will include tastings
and other promotions.
In other news from
France--Organics Prominent at 37th
International Agricultural Show At the 37th
International Agricultural Show (SIA), held February
27-March 5 in Paris, the organic food sector was more
prominent than in previous years. Exhibitors included
both small French producers and supermarket chains
(Auchan, Carrefour and Monoprix), which now have their
own private labels for their lines of organic products.
Parliamentarians held a conference sponsored by the
French National Research Institute of Agronomy (INRA), at
which speakers debated a variety of definitions for
natural products.
For more news on organics, see HTP’s
monthly newsletter "Organic Perspectives,"
available at the HTP home page: www.fas.usda.gov/htp/organics/organics.html. The newsletter contains reports on organics
from around the world gleaned from attache reports, trips
made by HTP’s organics staff, and other sources. The
newsletter also covers items of interest about the U.S.
national organic program and the domestic organic
industry. A list of upcoming conferences, trade shows and
other events is included in every issue.
(For further information, contact Janise Zygmont at
202-720-1176.)
