Specialist organic retail chains in France generated collective sales of €4.16 billion in 2021, a new survey* by Bio Lineaires shows.
This represents a slight decline on exceptional figures recorded in 2020, but shows double digit growth on 2019 sales, which Bio Lineaires says should be seen as a “reference year”.
2021 saw 216 store openings (compared to 164 in 2020), confirming confidence among organic retailers in future prospects, although closures were slightly up, at 85 (compared to 77 in 2020).
The new survey also confirms a general trend towards large footprint stores, with average store size now standing at 264 sqm (compared to 120 sqm in 2005).
France has one of the most buoyant specialist organic retail sectors in Europe, and some of the largest organic chains. Coperative Biocoop is the single largest, with 758 outlets, while La Vie Claire, Naturalia, Bio Monde, Bio C’Bon and Les Comptoirs de la Bio operate 380, 250, 225, 108 and 94 stores respectively.
- The full report is available to buy at Bio Lineaires.
Image: La Vie Claire organic store, La Vie Claire (via Facebook)