A recent survey commissioned by Anvol (the Poultry Meat Inter-branch Organisation) confirms a clear trend: the French are heavy consumers of poultry meat and are increasingly attaching paramount importance to the French origin of the products they purchase.

Poultry: the most widely consumed meat

Poultry is firmly embedded in French consumption habits. Indeed, 49% of respondents state it is the meat they consume most frequently. This proportion places poultry ahead of beef, cited by 26% of French consumers, and pork, which 18% say they eat most often.

96% of French consumers eat poultry, and 82% do so at least once a week

Almost the entire French population — 96% — reports consuming poultry. As many as 82% eat it regularly, that is, at least once a week.

Nearly half (49%) consume poultry two to four times a week, 28% once a week, and 5% are avid enthusiasts who declare they eat it every day or almost every day.

Chicken, turkey and duck in the top 3 favourite poultry species

Among the 96% of poultry consumers, chicken ranks first among the species chosen, within a wide and diversified range of eight species available in France. Chicken stands apart from all other species, receiving approval from 96% of poultry consumers, followed by turkey (62%), duck (47%) and guinea fowl (25%). Quail and poussin are tied in fifth place (11%), while goose and pigeon share sixth position (6%).

Poultry: an ally for a balanced diet

French consumers are widely aware of the benefits of poultry. Nine out of ten (90%) agree that poultry offers excellent nutritional qualities. They consider that regular poultry consumption contributes to a healthy, balanced diet (89%).

Multiple qualities widely recognised

Poultry has even greater potential to contribute to a balanced diet, as it is considered easy to prepare and suitable for a wide range of recipes — two statements with which 95% of French consumers agree. Nearly the same proportion (94%) knows that poultry is popular with the majority of people, that it offers a great variety of species (turkey, chicken, goose, duck, pigeon, guinea fowl, quail, poussin), and that it is an integral part of French gastronomic culture (91%).
More than 9 in 10 French consumers also regard poultry as tasty and flavourful (93%), high quality (92%), and available in a wide variety of presentation formats (whole, portioned, filleted, as sausages, etc.).

Finally, almost 9 in 10 (89%) also agree that poultry offers an excellent quality-to-price ratio.

Large-scale retail: the preferred channel for purchasing poultry

More than 6 in 10 poultry consumers purchase it most frequently at hypermarkets or supermarkets (61%). These retail outlets clearly top the list of poultry purchasing locations.
A minority of poultry consumers report buying it at markets (7%), through direct sales from producers or AMAPs (community-supported agriculture schemes) (6%), at discount stores (4%), at convenience stores (4%), at organic shops (2%), and 1% through home delivery services.

OVERVIEW OF THE POULTRY MEAT SECTOR IN FRANCE

Origin and farming method: key purchasing criteria

The vast majority of poultry consumers — 86% — consider it important to purchase poultry of 100% French origin. French origin is therefore the primary selection criterion at the point of purchase, followed by farming method and the local or regional origin of the poultry. When it comes to the final decision, price ranks fourth.

Indeed, three quarters of consumers are willing to pay more for poultry of French origin.

French poultry: recognised attributes

The advantages of French poultry are widely recognised by the French population as a whole. Firstly, 92% of French consumers agree that French poultry contributes to the preservation of farms in France. 90% know that it contributes to the country’s food sovereignty, and the same proportion is aware that it is synonymous with quality in general and, more specifically, in terms of food safety and hygiene quality. Finally, 85% of French consumers agree that it guarantees compliance with animal welfare regulations that are among the most stringent in the world.

French poultry: trust granted!

French consumers place considerable trust in French poultry. 93% express confidence in its taste qualities and 90% in its ability to guarantee food safety. 88% trust its traceability and 85% trust the farming practices of French professionals.

GOOD TO KNOW…..

Traceability: improved labelling has ensured consumers always have full clarity on product origin

Price per kilogram, weight, packaging date, use-by date: this information is easy to identify at a glance on the rectangular label found on all poultry sold in shops. But that is not the only information it contains… To provide comprehensive traceability, this valuable label also includes additional information, this time in the form of codes. These include, in particular, the batch number and the health mark, which serve as genuine access keys to the poultry’s entire journey — from the shelf where it is purchased right back to the egg from which it hatched.

The French poultry supply chain: clear commitments

The French population is well aware of the many commitments made by the French poultry supply chain. 83% of French consumers know that it is committed to producing quality poultry, and 82% recognise it as a driver of economic vitality across French regions. More than three quarters of French consumers (76%) say the supply chain is committed to the continuous improvement of good farming practices. 70% are also aware of its commitment to animal welfare and environmental preservation.

The “French Poultry” logo: well recognised and a positive purchasing driver

The “French Poultry” logo is well known among French consumers, with 82% having already seen it or heard of it. Likewise, 82% know that this logo signifies that the poultry was born, reared and slaughtered in France. The presence of the logo on poultry products is considered a factor that can positively influence purchasing decisions by 81% of poultry consumers.

The French Poultry logo signals quality

To identify 100% French poultry, it is simple: just look for the “French Poultry” logo on the product. This is an official logo, created by industry professionals with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

It guarantees that the poultry’s entire production journey has taken place in France and that it has benefited from the recognised expertise of French poultry supply chain professionals and their commitment to delivering the finest possible poultry under the best possible conditions. Choosing poultry bearing the “French Poultry” logo is a guarantee of selecting a product from a bird that was hatched, reared, fed, slaughtered, cut and processed in France.

The requirements of the “French Poultry” logo even exceed those of current regulations — a genuine added value compared with low-cost poultry imported from countries whose standards differ greatly from our own!

Food service: consumers recognise and prefer domestic products

French consumers support the presence of French poultry on restaurant menus. A full 79% consider it essential! This proportion rises to 84% when poultry consumers specifically are surveyed.
Moreover, among all poultry consumers who eat out at restaurants, 74% consider it important to know clearly whether the poultry served is genuinely of French origin. In fact, when origin is not indicated, 39% say they ask.

This desire is also evident when purchasing ready-made meals: 71% of consumers likewise consider it important to know that the poultry is of French origin.

To find out more:
-. Poultry farming in France on NeXusAvicultura