Packaging Industry in France
Euromonitor International's Packaging Industry in France report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides historic market size data by industry, allowing you to identify the most popular pack types. It identifies the leading companies, and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market- be they new product developments, recycling or legislation issues. Forecasts illustrate how the market is set to change.
Chapters: 5 | Tables: 34 | Publication date: Apr 2009
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Executive summary
Economic Downturn: Levelling Prices and Reviewing Priorities
The French packaging industry faces an uncertain global economy with the prospect of a recession in the first half of the forecast period, leading to a clear slowdown in activity, as underlined by the COFEPAC organisation. Manufacturers are therefore focusing on finding ways to cut operational costs. In this context, talks between the French government, consumer goods manufacturers and retailers are scheduled for the start of 2009. The talks are intended to lead to adjustments in both manufacturers' selling prices and retail prices. The outcome of these negotiations will partly depend on volatility of raw material and energy prices.
In addition, several packagers are restructuring their business activities, choosing to focus on revenue drivers. As such, Sequana Group's subsidiary Antalis gave up its promotional product division to concentrate on the manufacture and sale of paper-based packaging.
Cosmetics to Support Packaging Innovation and Volumes
Despite the economic downturn, innovation in cosmetics and its packaging continued to be strong in 2008 and this is predicted to be sustained over the forecast period. Single-serve packaging is ready to expand its reach from the premium segments into mid-priced segments, with squeezable plastic tubes likely to benefit from this trend in skin care and colour cosmetics over the forecast period. One product development expected to trigger further industry entries is the single-dose tube introduced by Noepac Packaging Solutions in 2008. The company claims that this pack type is better adapted to skin care products than traditional PE- or PP-based tubes.
The French packaged food industry also presents some valuable growth opportunities for packagers and brand owners in the short-to-medium term. Despite the high maturity of the industry and worsening economic conditions, commodity product types, but also baby food, are expected to sail through the crisis. This is because consumers should not significantly reduce their spending on staple foods while they will continue to embrace new product developments which are perceived as increasing convenience for parents and quality for children. Danone France SA is widening the production capacity for its Blédichef product range in rigid plastic containers. This product range was launched in a move to replace expensive and breakable glass jars and make prepared baby food microwaveable.
Sustainability Remains on the Agenda
Companies are active in research and development, as polymer hydrocarbon prices have become increasingly important since 2004, leading to the development of biomaterials as substitutes for oil-based plastics. New packs such as cellophane have been developed for better biodegradable packaging. For instance, Nestle France SA's packager Innovia Films offers coloured cellophane as secondary packaging for Quality Street chocolates, which can be composted at home. Furthermore, decreasing wastage and CO2 emissions remain at the heart of governmental decisions, strengthened by the French Presidency of the EU.
Table of contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN: LEVELLING PRICES AND REVIEWING PRIORITIES
COSMETICS TO SUPPORT PACKAGING INNOVATION AND VOLUMES
SUSTAINABILITY REMAINS ON THE AGENDA
MARKET BACKGROUND
PACKAGING LEGISLATION
French laws and regulations
Code of Consumption
The domination of European legislation
The importance of LCA is not yet widely recognised
RECYCLING AND THE ENVIRONMENT
European initiative against waste
The polluter pays
Waste management schemes to help packaging producers
Environmental issues gain importance
Table 1 Overview of Packaging Recycling and Recovery in France 2007/2008 and Proposals for 2009 (in tonnes)
CORPORATE ACTIVITY IN PACKAGING
French packaging is mature but not ripe for acquisitions
Investments and divestures are popular
Competition forces players to quit
MAJOR MARKET PLAYERS
ALCAN FRANCE SAS
Positioning and strategy
Summary 1 Alcan France SAS: Operational Indicators 2008
Summary 2 Major End-use Markets for Alcan France SAS by Pack Type 2008
SAINT GOBAIN EMBALLAGE
Company overview
Positioning and strategy
Summary 3 Saint Gobain Emballage: Operational Indicators 2008
Summary 4 Major End-use Markets for Saint Gobain Emballage by Pack Type 2008
TETRA PAK FRANCE
Company overview
Strategy
Summary 5 Major End-use Markets for Tetra Pak France by Pack Type 2008
BSN GLASSPACK SA
Positioning and strategy
France remains BSN Glasspack's key market
Expansion to boost sales
Summary 6 BSN Glasspack SA: Operational Indicators 2008
Summary 7 Major End-use Markets for BSN Glasspack SA by Pack Type 2008
AMCOR FLEXIBLES FRANCE SA
Positioning and strategy
Reducing emissions
Expanding business through acquisition
PET division for future divestment
Summary 8 Amcor Flexibles France SA: Operational Indicators 2008
Summary 9 Major End-use Markets for Amcor Flexibles France SA by Pack Type 2008
HUHTAMAKI FRANCE SA
Positioning and strategy
Huhtamaki to survive weakening economy
Summary 10 Major End-use Markets for Huhtamaki France SA by Pack Type 2008
REXAM FRANCE SA
Can business to reach new levels by 2010
Growing competition
Summary 11 Rexam France SA: Operational Indicators 2008
Summary 12 Major End-use Markets for Rexam France SA by Pack Type 2008
MM PACKAGING FRANCE SA
Leader in folding cartons in Europe
France holds the core of folding carton production
Summary 13 MM Packaging France SA: Operational Indicators 2008
Summary 14 Major End-use Markets for MM Packaging France SA by Pack Type 2008
VERIPLAST PACKAGING FRANCE SA
France remains an important market
Plastic is the main focus
Summary 15 Veriplast France: Operational Indicators 2008
Summary 16 Major End-use Markets for Veriplast by Pack Type 2008
CROWN EMBALLAGE FRANCE SAS
Crown invests in developing countries
Summary 17 Crown Emballage France SAS: Operational Indicators 2008
Summary 18 Major End-use Markets for Crown Emballage France SAS by Pack Type 2008
IMPRESS METAL PACKAGING SA
A metal packaging giant
Important acquisitions strengthen the company's presence
Summary 19 Impress Metal Packaging SA: Operational Indicators 2008
Summary 20 Major End-use Markets for Impress Metal Packaging SA by Pack Type 2008
GROUPE GUILLIN
Summary 21 Major End-use Markets for Groupe Guillin by Pack Type 2008
QUALIPAC SA
Summary 22 Major End-use Markets for Qualipac SA by Pack Type 2008
MAJOR PLAYERS BY PACK TYPE
RIGID PLASTIC
Small companies fill niches
International players lead rigid plastic
Change of ownership helps French company
Summary 23 Ranking of Major Rigid Plastic Packaging Companies 2008
Summary 24 Major Rigid Plastic Packaging Companies by Pack Type 2008
METAL
Still going strong at the top
Northern France: a hive of metal packaging activity
Summary 25 Ranking of Major Metal Packaging Companies 2007
Summary 26 Major Metal Packaging Companies by Pack Type 2008
FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
Amcor benefits from mergers and acquisitions
International players lead flexible packaging in France
The acquisition of Pechiney proves to be a strategic move
Summary 27 Ranking of Major Flexible Packaging Companies 2008
Summary 28 Major Flexible Packaging Companies by Pack Type 2008
GLASS
Europe's leading players operate in France
Glass packaging strong in northwest France
Summary 29 Ranking of Major Glass Packaging Companies 2008
LIQUID CARTONS
Tetra Pak's merger with Sidel opens new doors
France is a highly important market for liquid cartons
Summary 30 Ranking of Major Liquid Carton Companies 2007
PAPER-BASED CONTAINERS
Large companies consolidate while small ones lose out
European players in France
North American company expands overseas
Summary 31 Ranking of Paper-Based Container Companies 2008
Summary 32 Major Paper-Based Container Companies by Pack Type 2008
CLOSURES
Importance of diversity
Summary 33 Ranking of Major Closure Companies 2008