As elsewhere in Europe, pods are the single most important factor driving the development of the market in France. Héloïse Terraud, Secretary General of the Syndicat Français du Café, which represents the 20 largest roasters in the country, told C&CI that the main trend that is identifiable in the coffee sector in France was the continued rapid growth in demand for pods, demand for which grew by 11 per cent in the last 12 months.
Demand for other types of coffee which currently hold only a small share of the market, such as certified coffees and whole bean coffee is also growing rapidly, she said, but from a small base. Demand for whole bean coffee had risen by a startling 26 per cent in the last 12 months, she told C&CI. In the soluble sector, sticks are increasingly popular with consumers.
Overall, she said, consumption had risen slightly, in volume and in value terms, in the last year for which figures are available (2010-2011).
For more information about the French coffee market see the forthcoming January 2013 issue of Coffee & Cocoa International.
