France Plant-based Meat Market Overview, 2029

"France is the EU’s largest agricultural producing country, while its organic food & beverage market is already the third largest in the world. According to a report from France Research Institute from 1970 to 2020, the French per capita consumption of pig meat amounted to 31.5 kg in 2020 and the consumption of poultry meat to 27.7 kg, out of a total of 84.4 kilograms of meat. In France, Meat-free eating habits seem to represent a minor part of dietary behavior in France. In 2018, 1.5 percent of men and 2.8 percent of women were considered vegetarian. Although the omnivore diet was the dominant one, about 40 percent of people surveyed followed a flexitarian diet. Moreover, 40 percent of French were in favor of introducing vegetarian meals in catering services like canteens, restaurants etc. In addition to this, more than 50 percent of interviewed French supported the proposition of vegetarian meals at school caterings at least once a week. These all statistics show that animal-based meat consumption is being replaced by plant-based meat products gradually over the time. Super markets such as Carrefour and Intermarche are emphasizing their focus towards plant based meat products. Thus, French people are making changes to their eating patterns and trends towards plant-based meat.

According to the report title “France Plant-based Meat Market Overview, 2029”, published by Bonafide research, the plant-based meat market in Brazil is expected to grow over 12% during the forecast period ending 2026. The plant-based meat market in France is experiencing significant growth due to its culinary heritage and gastronomic traditions. French consumers are increasingly adopting plant-based diets and reducing their consumption of animal products, driven by concerns about sustainability, animal welfare, and personal health. The market offers a diverse range of plant-based meat products catering to the discerning palates and cultural preferences of the French population. Local companies are leveraging the country's culinary expertise to develop innovative plant-based options, including iconic dishes like coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon, and confit de canard. The French government has shown significant support for the plant-based industry, recognizing its potential in addressing sustainability challenges and promoting healthier food choices.The strong agricultural sector in France provides a solid foundation for the development of plant-based meat alternatives, with local sourcing of ingredients contributing to the authenticity and nutritional value of French plant-based products. The market is poised for continued growth and innovation, driven by collaborations between industry players, farmers, and research institutions.

Peak meat consumption per capita was noted in 1998 between the periods 1986 to 2002, with a minimum consumption, on average, of 90 kilogram per inhabitant per year. However since the beginning of the 2000s, meat consumption has decreased in French households. A more recent survey from 2019 revealed that 38 percent of French people ate meat (pig, beef etc.) three to five times a week. The consumption of poultry meat was limited to once or twice a week for 57 percent of the people surveyed. The important factor for heavy consumption of meat-based products in 1990s is that consumers were not aware about its pros and cons.

A major factor in the growth of the plant-based industry, especially in the France, is the increased individual attention of the consumer. This is mainly due to upcoming generation and the consistent increase of the flexitarian consumer. The flexitarian’s alternative consumption could take the form of specific substitutes or meat/ dairy free meal choices. The other major factor is due to health-related issues on more consumption of red meat. French people are facing obesity problems, diabetes etc. at all the ages and increasing among old also. Due to this Veganism is being adopted there. Another important factor attributing to adoption of plant-based meat over animal based meat product is increasing cruelty towards animal to overcome the rising demand of animal-based meat products. Through various digital means the information is being circulated all over the world and people are becoming aware about its social impact and thus switching to veganism. Many influencers across various platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are promoting veganism for example an Instagram influencer named Lloyd Lang with 110K+ followers and engagement rate of 2.60% is promoting veganism.

The pulses such as chickpeas, lentils contain huge proportion of necessary proteins and amino acids thus aiding the growth of plant-based meat products further. Yet, the central place of meat in a dish among French consumers may be a barrier to replacing meat with pulses. With modern innovative technologies coming up nowadays high protein grains could be used as a vital source for making plant-based meat products and dairy products and seafood alternatives. Soy, Peas, Wheat and many others vegan substances with content rich in proteins, minerals, vitamins, high in fibers and amino acids can be cooked to produce plant-based meat with similar aesthetics, taste and feel of animal-based meat products.



France has adopted climate law introducing series of measures that impact agricultural sector including the reduction of nitrogen-based fertilizers and encouraging more vegetarian menus in school canteens. The plant-based meal program aims to set new sustainable foods in France and introduce plant-based food at an early stage to kids. One of the major restricting factors is the price of the plant-based meat engineered product. Currently, in various options few animal-based products can be purchased in the price of one plant-based meat product. The French people are mainly omnivore and Flexitarian types so growth estimated there is exponential with new innovative good quality product launch with recent advancements in technology. Moreover, an efficient strategy for distribution of these plant-based products should be ensured for timely delivery to consumers through food retails, supermarkets and HoReCa.

The individual health awareness and the Covid pandemic actually had a positive impact on the plant-based meat in France. Consumers began trying out artificial meats and also from 2021 once in a week at least meat will not be served in schools, colleges. The pandemic made consumers more aware of the alternative options available in the market and the manufacturers were also ready to take on the market share due to the situations raised.

Considered in this report
• Geography: France
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year: 2029

Aspects covered in this report
• France plant-based meat products market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Five force models
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Source in the report
• Soy
• Pea
• Wheat
• Others (Oat, Walnut, Hazelnut, Pea, nuts etc.)

Types of meat products in the report
• Burger Pattie
• Sausages
• Strips & Nuggets
• Meatballs
• Others

By Type in the report
• Beef
• Chicken
• Pork
• Fish
• Other (Lamb, Turkey)

By End-User in the report
• Retail
• HoReCa

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.
Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to plant-based meat industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry. ?