L’aperitif established itself as the product snacking lighthouse in France. “It’s a French specificity,” Sophie Van Eeckhaute, marketing, communications and CSR director of the Intersnack group, tells us during an interview. “We are talking about 36 million occasions with an aperitif twice a week”encrypts our interlocutor.
Read also: The French maintain an appetite for snacking
The most dynamic segments in snacking
“The PSA category Chips has been a dynamic category for 10 years: Value CAGR +6% and Volume CAGR +3% (Nielsen). It is a category that weighs heavily within the PGC-FLS and is the second largest contributor to growth,” indicates Sophie Van Eeckhaute before adding “in 2024, the category was still dynamic with +3.1% in value and 2.2% in volume according to the P12 2024 Nielsen mobile annual total”.
Two other, smaller segments are also growing. “Better For You snacks (+30%), which appeal thanks to healthy and delicious alternatives, with a growing demand for responsible products and popcorns (+15%), prized for their friendly and family aspect, particularly for movie nights at home”, specifies the marketing, communications and CSR director of the Intersnack group.
An answer to “unstructured meals”
The consumption evolves in France. For example, sophisticated products are experiencing strong growth due to their practicality. It’s the same thing for the world of snacking. “Snacking is a response to the transformations of modern lifestyles. Unstructured meals, gourmet breaks and the need for practicality have redefined consumer expectations,” explains the marketing, communications and CSR director of the Intersnack group. “In 2024, 51% of French people will consume snacks for pleasure and 28% for reasons of convenience, an increase of +1 point compared to the previous year,” cites Sophie Van Eeckhaute based on Kantar data.
Snack products that resist inflation
The notion of pleasure is important for this product category. “Despite theinflationaperitif cakes remain perceived as an affordable pleasure. The products, often priced at less than €2, meet the expectations of consumers who are looking for accessible little pleasures. notes the marketing, communications and CSR director of the Intersnack group.
Read also: The insolent good health of snacking
Innovations in the snacking market
Over the last ten years, the snacking market has undergone several developments. Sophie Van Eeckhaute lists them in three categories. The first, “healthier products” due to a request which “intensified”. “Vico Natur’ & Bon perfectly meets this expectation, with growth of +20% in 2024 for lentil chips,” illustrates our interlocutor. The second “simplified recipes. Consumers favor consensual flavors », underlines the marketing, communication and CSR director of the Intersnack group. Afterwards, “formats and flavors adapted to Gen Z: like the Vico Street Food range of crisps, which reached 800 tonnes of sell-in in 2024”. Finally, “quality products for moments that are a little more “special”, like an aperitif for two”.
A snacking market not yet mature compared to the rest of Europe
France is not fond of snacking compared to its neighbors European. The average consumption of chips, for example, is 5.26 kg per year per person. In France, we consume nearly 3.8 kg.
Read also: Snacking is still progressing globally
