Food supermarkets in France

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In France, supermarkets are a world where a profusion of brands compete to meet the varied needs of consumers. The main chains and their footprint across the French territory shape a commercial landscape with an influence on the purchasing habits of the French that would be interesting to explore.

The French supermarket sector

Supermarkets in France are often seen as places where you can discover and appreciate the country's gastronomic diversity. They offer a diverse and quality shopping experience, with a wide variety of fresh, local and international food products. They are also renowned for their commitment to product quality and compliance with health standards. In addition, French supermarkets are often praised for their ability to reflect the culinary and cultural richness of the country, by offering regional products and local specialties. The commercial landscape of France is also taking shape thanks to this sector which is characterized by competition, especially with regard to food supermarkets. The latter stand out for their growing commitment to sustainability and fair trade.

Evolution of the number of stores per brand

The number of supermarkets in France has fluctuated over time, influenced by various factors such as consumer trends, competition between brands and economic developments. Over the past few decades, the supermarket market in France has been marked by consolidation, with an increasing concentration of certain large brands which have acquired market share and opened new stores throughout the country. With the expansion of store formats that adapt to consumer needs, French supermarkets offer hypermarkets, neighborhood supermarkets, convenience stores and online outlets.
Today in France, there are around 44,000 general food sales points spread across the entire country. In 2022, more than 1,000 hypermarkets have been counted and the mass distribution market represents around 190 billion euros in France.

Some of the biggest names include:

Carrefour: one of the largest supermarket chains in France, with more than a thousand stores spread across the country, including around 248 hypermarkets, Carrefour Markets and around a hundred Carrefour City convenience stores.

Leclerc: also very common in France, with around 721 stores including hypermarkets and supermarkets spread across the country. They are known for their low pricing policy and wide range of products.

Auchan: another large supermarket chain, originating from the North, of France present in France, with more than 119 stores including hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores in many regions.

Intermarché: a supermarket chain with thousands of stores across France, offering a variety of food and non-food products.

Système U: a supermarket chain that operates mainly in France, with a significant presence in rural and urban regions. It has around 1500 stores.

Casino: this group operates several supermarket brands in France, including 411 Géant Casino Supermarchés, 109 hypermarkets and 790 “Petit Casino”, which offer a varied range of products. With the financial difficulties encountered recently, the bankrupt brand has to sell part of its stores to the Auchan group and another to the Intermarché group.

These brands represent a large part of the supermarket market in France, but there are also many other chains and independent stores which contribute to the diversity of the French commercial landscape.

Supermarkets are an essential part of the daily life of the French and have a central place in the country's commercial landscape. With a range of brands and services, these establishments offer invaluable convenience to consumers, while contributing to the gastronomic diversity and economic vitality of the country. The number of supermarkets in France provides citizens with easy access to a multitude of food products. With the world constantly evolving, French supermarkets continue to adapt and innovate to meet changing consumer needs and market challenges. They are evolving into new professions such as van rental, travel sales, or for certain brands banking to face ever tougher competition from certain hard discount brands. The examples are numerous, but the main ones are the two German chains Aldi and Lidl, but others are also pushing to make their mark.