France

Western Europe continues to evolve digitally, with consumers increasingly embracing digital services. The digital evolution is being driven by investment in infrastructure by governments and key operators, leading to enhancements in broadband quality...

Having experienced a marked fall in sales in the previous year due to COVID-19 related restrictions and changes in consumer lifestyles, eyewear is set to return to growth in 2021. Eyewear sales had suffered markedly as a result of the closure of ...

Contact lenses and solutions is set to return to growth in 2021, having seen a marked fall in sales in the previous year due to the closure of most opticians during March, April and early May 2020 and people’s concerns about transmitting the COVID-19...

Having registered a significant fall in sales in the previous year, spectacles is expected to see a return growth in 2021 supported by the reopening of physical stores. Following two months of store closures and a shortage of prescriptions in the ...

At first sight, sunglasses was less affected by the closure of opticians than other eyewear categories, as sunglasses products remained widely available through e-commerce and modern grocery retailers. However, sunglasses has, in fact, been the ...

Watches is set to see a return to growth in 2021 following the marked decline in sales witnessed in the previous year as a result of store closures and the absence of inbound tourists due to the COVID-19 crisis. However, sales are expected to remain ...

While the French personal accessories market is set to return to growth in 2021, it is still in a period of convalescence and expected to see sales remain well below the levels registered prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020 was an annus horribilis ...

The closure of non-essential stores and the absence of inbound tourists resulting from the COVID-19 crisis have had a severe impact on sales of jewellery in the French market. Upmarket and luxury products, in particular, have paid the price for their...

Having experienced several weeks of significant decline as a result of the closure of schools and non-essential brick-and-mortar stores in 2020, writing instruments was subject to the same challenging situation in April 2021. However, the category ...

Bags and luggage has been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis over 2020 and 2021. From the middle of March to May 2020, during part of autumn 2020, and then again in April 2021 all mainstream outlets in the category were closed, including department ...

Gum will continue to struggle in 2021 with another year of current value decline expected, albeit at a slower rate than was seen in 2020. After a disastrous year when COVID-19 lockdowns left a huge negative impact on sales due to reduced passing ...

Chocolate confectionery is set to post a marginally slower rate of current value growth in 2021 than was seen in 2020 as local consumers become accustomed to life with COVID-19. Seasonal chocolate will still struggle to adapt to the new normal in ...

Following the disruptive year of 2020, demand for ice cream and frozen desserts is set to normalise in 2021, translating to slower current value growth. The lockdown had a considerable impact on ice cream demand with impulse ice cream buys decreasing...

Demand for sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks is likely to slightly slow in 2021 following the uptick in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The nationwide lockdown changed consumer behaviour as more people started having afternoon snacks ...

Sugar confectionery is set to return to positive current value and retail volume growth in 2021, albeit slow. Demand for sugar confectionery will continue dissipating in 2021, as lingering negative effects of lockdowns on children’s parties and ...

Savoury snacks will continue to benefit from the momentum created by the COVID-19 lockdown in 2021. The shift to home working has benefitted savoury snacks, as home-bound consumers turned to snacking, particularly on vegetable, pulse and bread chips ...

COVID-19 is reshaping the mobility landscape in France with the government pressing ahead with its demand for more sustainability. Stricter use of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and the provision of government-sponsored programmes for ...

In 2020, sales of cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco recorded 27% value growth, compared to 4% in 2019. However, volume growth for cigars and cigarillos recorded volume decline, whereas volume sales of smoking tobacco increased by 14%....

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, partnered with an increase in taxes, value sales of tobacco rose to 12% in 2020, compared to growth of 3% in 2019. The impact of the first lockdown and the closing of the borders led to stable tobacco sales. ...

In 2020, sales of smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco recorded 3% value growth, improving from the 1% recorded in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco. ...