France consumed 98 kg of cheese per capita in 2022 and still shows a clear dietary fingerprint that shapes demand across production and trade. Export values remain substantial, with agri-food sales reaching €60.7 billion in 2022, led by wine at €14.5 billion. Employment adds another constraint to the picture, with 597,000 direct jobs in food processing and an average gross salary of €32,500 per year.
Key Takeaways
- France consumed 98 kg of cheese per capita in 2022.
- The French food industry employed 597,000 direct jobs in 2022.
- France exported €60.7 billion worth of agri-food products in 2022.
- In 2022, the French food industry generated a total turnover of €175.2 billion, representing 2.3% of the national GDP.
- France produced 28.1 million metric tons of wheat in the 2022/2023 crop year.
- 65% of French food companies invested in digital tools for sustainability in 2022.
French food industry statistics show steady growth and resilience, highlighting strong demand across key product categories.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumption23 stats
01
France consumed 98 kg of cheese per capita in 2022.
02
Annual per capita bread consumption in France was 52 kg in 2022.
03
French households consumed 26 liters of milk per capita yearly in 2022.
04
Meat consumption averaged 74 kg per capita in France in 2022.
05
Wine consumption per capita dropped to 42 liters in 2022.
06
Vegetable consumption was 90 kg per capita annually in 2022.
07
Fruit intake averaged 65 kg per person per year in 2022.
08
Yogurt consumption reached 27 kg per capita in 2022.
09
Poultry meat consumption was 28 kg per capita in 2022.
10
Butter consumption stood at 8 kg per capita yearly in 2022.
11
Pasta consumption averaged 8 kg per capita in 2022.
12
Chocolate consumption was 7.5 kg per person in 2022.
13
Bottled water consumption hit 140 liters per capita in 2022.
14
Soft drinks consumption totaled 85 liters per capita annually in 2022.
15
Organic product consumption grew to 5.3% of total food purchases in 2022.
16
Ready-to-eat meal consumption increased 4% to 120 units per person in 2022.
17
Snack consumption averaged 25 kg per capita in 2022.
18
Frozen food consumption was 28 kg per household member in 2022.
19
Soup consumption reached 25 liters per capita in 2022.
20
Plant-based milk consumption grew 15% to 12 liters per capita in 2022.
21
Fish and seafood consumption was 25 kg per capita in 2022.
22
Eggs consumption averaged 220 units per person yearly in 2022.
23
Olive oil consumption hit 12 liters per capita in 2022.
Interpretation
Consumption Interpretation
The French dietary portrait is one of voracious cheese consumption and steadfast bread loyalty, now complicated by a notable retreat from the wine bottle, a rising tide of bottled water, and a quiet but growing rebellion of plant-based milk in the nation's cafés au lait.
02 · Category
Employment21 stats
01
The French food industry employed 597,000 direct jobs in 2022.
02
Food manufacturing jobs represented 2.1% of total French employment in 2022.
03
Women accounted for 42% of the food industry workforce in 2022.
04
Average salary in French food processing was €32,500 gross annually in 2022.
05
16,200 food companies employed over 250 people each for 5% of total jobs in 2022.
06
Apprenticeships in food industry reached 45,000 in 2022.
07
Bakery sector employed 82,000 people in 2022.
08
Dairy industry jobs totaled 75,000 in 2022.
09
Meat processing employed 90,000 workers in 2022.
10
Temporary jobs made up 15% of food industry employment in 2022.
11
R&D staff in food sector numbered 18,000 in 2022.
12
Under-30s represented 22% of new hires in 2022.
13
Regional employment leader was Pays de la Loire with 70,000 jobs in 2022.
14
Bretagne hosted 65,000 food industry jobs in 2022.
15
Turnover per employee in food industry was €293,000 in 2022.
16
12% of jobs required higher education qualifications in 2022.
17
Overtime hours averaged 120 per employee yearly in 2022.
18
Food industry absenteeism rate was 5.2% in 2022.
19
3,500 job creations occurred in organic food segment in 2022.
20
Night shifts concerned 25% of food workers in 2022.
21
Training investment per employee was €1,200 in 2022.
Interpretation
Employment Interpretation
France's food industry is a colossal feast of employment—nearly 600,000 strong—yet it’s a banquet where the hours are long, the night shifts plentiful, and the average plate, at €32,500 a year, suggests the kitchen staff aren't always eating as well as the guests, though a fresh crop of 45,000 apprentices and a growing organic sector are promising new ingredients for the future.
03 · Category
Exports22 stats
01
France exported €60.7 billion worth of agri-food products in 2022.
02
Wine was France's top food export, valued at €14.5 billion in 2022.
03
Cheese exports reached €3.2 billion in 2022.
04
Spirits exports totaled €4.8 billion from France in 2022.
05
Dairy products exports grew 5% to €6.1 billion in 2022.
06
France exported 1.1 million tons of wheat in 2022/2023.
07
Meat exports were valued at €5.4 billion in 2022.
08
EU was the destination for 58% of French food exports in 2022.
09
USA imported €2.1 billion of French food products in 2022.
10
China bought €1.8 billion in French agri-food in 2022.
11
Breakfast cereals exports hit €450 million in 2022.
12
Biscuits and cakes exports totaled €1.2 billion in 2022.
13
Mineral water exports reached €800 million in 2022.
14
France exported 250,000 tons of butter in 2022.
15
Chocolate exports were €1.5 billion in 2022.
16
Pasta exports totaled €600 million from France in 2022.
17
Vegetable exports reached €2.3 billion in 2022.
18
Fruit exports were valued at €1.9 billion in 2022.
19
Prepared meals exports grew to €1.1 billion in 2022.
20
Organic food exports hit €2.5 billion in 2022.
21
France imported €52.4 billion in agri-food products in 2022.
22
Top export growth was to Asia at 12% in 2022.
Interpretation
Exports Interpretation
France's formidable €60.7 billion food export empire proves that its true national pastime isn't just debating philosophy, but expertly converting it into cheese, wine, and enough butter to build a pastry bridge across the English Channel.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Size30 stats
01
In 2022, the French food industry generated a total turnover of €175.2 billion, representing 2.3% of the national GDP.
02
The food processing sector in France employed 597,000 people in 2022, accounting for 2.1% of total employment.
03
France's food industry consists of 16,200 companies, with 95% being SMEs employing fewer than 250 people.
04
In 2023, the bakery sector alone contributed €27.5 billion to the French food industry's revenue.
05
The French dairy industry generated €25.4 billion in turnover in 2022, making it the second largest segment.
06
Organic food sales in France reached €13.8 billion in 2022, growing 8% year-over-year.
07
The French meat processing industry had a turnover of €32.1 billion in 2022.
08
Beverage production, including wine and soft drinks, added €52.3 billion to the food industry's total in 2022.
09
The confectionery and chocolate sector in France achieved €6.8 billion in sales in 2022.
10
France's food industry R&D investment reached €2.1 billion in 2022, or 1.2% of turnover.
11
In 2022, the top 10 food companies in France accounted for 25% of the sector's total turnover.
12
The ready-meals segment grew to €7.9 billion in value sales in France in 2022.
13
France's food industry export value reached €60.7 billion in 2022.
14
The domestic market share of French food production was 92% in 2022.
15
In 2023 forecast, French food industry growth was projected at 2.5%.
16
The plant-based food market in France hit €1.2 billion in 2022.
17
French cheese production totaled 1.9 million tons in 2022.
18
Wine production volume in France was 49.8 million hectoliters in 2022.
19
The French pasta industry produced 1.1 million tons annually, with turnover of €2.5 billion.
20
Snack food sales in France reached €10.4 billion in 2022.
21
The French food industry's energy costs rose 45% in 2022 due to inflation.
22
Packaged food retail sales in France were €180 billion in 2022.
23
The premium food segment grew 5.2% in France in 2022.
24
French food industry raw material costs increased 15% in 2022.
25
The frozen food market in France was valued at €8.7 billion in 2022.
26
Baby food sales in France totaled €1.4 billion in 2022.
27
The French soup market reached €1.1 billion in 2022.
28
Pet food production turnover in France was €5.2 billion in 2022.
29
The condiments and sauces sector generated €4.8 billion in France in 2022.
30
French bread production was 5.8 billion units per year in 2022.
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The French food industry is a masterfully aged economic pâté: a rich base of SMEs—mainly family bakeries and cheesemongers—garnished with a powerful wine and dairy core, baked to perfection by the high heat of rising costs, but still expanding and exporting at a rate that would make any other cuisine crumble with envy.
05 · Category
Production26 stats
01
France produced 28.1 million metric tons of wheat in the 2022/2023 crop year.
02
Milk production in France totaled 25.2 million tons in 2022.
03
France slaughtered 4.2 million cattle heads in 2022 for meat processing.
04
Sugar beet production reached 38.5 million tons in France in 2022.
05
France produced 1.25 million tons of cheese in 2022.
06
Vegetable oilseed production was 2.8 million tons in 2022/2023.
07
France's potato production totaled 6.9 million tons in 2022.
08
Apple production in France was 1.7 million tons in 2022.
09
Grape production for wine reached 49.8 million hectoliters in 2022.
10
France produced 500,000 tons of butter in 2022.
11
Maize production hit 14.2 million tons in 2022.
12
Pork production involved 23.5 million heads slaughtered in 2022.
13
France's rapeseed production was 3.9 million tons in 2022/2023.
14
Sunflower seed production reached 1.1 million tons in 2022.
15
Barley production totaled 11.5 million tons in 2022/2023.
16
France produced 850,000 tons of yogurt in 2022.
17
Poultry meat production was 4.8 million tons in 2022.
18
France's carrot production was 620,000 tons in 2022.
19
Onion production reached 500,000 tons in 2022.
20
Tomato production totaled 580,000 tons in 2022.
21
France produced 1.2 million tons of soft wheat for food use in 2022.
22
Cauliflower production was 220,000 tons in 2022.
23
Lettuce production reached 450,000 tons in 2022.
24
Strawberry production was 140,000 tons in 2022.
25
Asparagus production totaled 18,000 tons in 2022.
26
Artichoke production was 35,000 tons in 2022.
Interpretation
Production Interpretation
France's agricultural output reads like a fervent, multi-course argument that the nation's primary purpose is to nourish both bodies and its own cultural identity, with a spectacular amount of wine serving as the supporting evidence.
06 · Category
Sustainability22 stats
01
65% of French food companies invested in digital tools for sustainability in 2022.
02
Food industry recycled 92% of its packaging waste in 2022.
03
CO2 emissions from food processing decreased 8% between 2015-2022.
04
45% of food companies adopted circular economy practices by 2022.
05
Water usage in dairy production dropped 15% since 2010 to 2022.
06
Organic production area expanded to 2.3 million hectares in 2022.
07
Food waste reduction initiatives saved 300,000 tons annually by 2022.
08
78% of meat processors reduced antibiotic use by 40% from 2015-2022.
09
Renewable energy use in food plants reached 25% of total in 2022.
10
Plant-based product innovations grew 20% in portfolio by 2022.
11
55% of companies certified ISO 14001 for environment in 2022.
12
Packaging plastic reduction of 12% achieved industry-wide in 2022.
13
Biodiversity projects involved 60% of large food firms in 2022.
14
Energy efficiency improved 18% in factories from 2015 to 2022.
15
Zero-waste certifications held by 30% of food processors in 2022.
16
Carbon footprint labeling adopted by 40% of products in 2022.
17
Sustainable sourcing for cocoa reached 70% in chocolate firms by 2022.
18
Water recycling rate in beverages was 85% in 2022.
19
50% reduction in food industry GHG targeted by 2030, with 20% progress by 2022.
20
Precision agriculture used by 65% of upstream suppliers in 2022.
21
Insect protein innovations piloted in 15% of companies in 2022.
22
Palm oil free commitments by 85% of major food brands in 2022.
Interpretation
Sustainability Interpretation
From antibiotic prudence in meat to bean-counting precision in the fields, the French food industry is clearly cooking up a serious, multi-pronged sustainability feast, proving that saving the planet and savoring a good meal are not mutually exclusive ambitions.
Reference
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APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). France Food Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/france-food-industry-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "France Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/france-food-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "France Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/france-food-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
58 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level