The online grocery sector in France is advanced but has developed predominantly around the Drive click&collect model rather than home delivery, as in the UK. The market is concentrated and with the exception of the discounters, all the major players sell online. The largest grocer, Leclerc is also the largest online, with a market share of around 44%. The COVID-19 epidemic has accelerated growth in the online grocery sector, which we think saw sales rise by 40% during 2020 to reach €10.4 billion, equivalent to around 19% of all online spending and 3.6% of all grocery retail sector sales.

53% of consumers had shopped online for groceries in our research, peaking in younger age groups, particularly parents of under-16s. The main barrier to shopping online in all age groups is the preference for self-selecting fresh produce. This was highest amongst the over 55s, with cost issues of more concern to the young.

Key issues covered in this Report

  • The impact of COVID-19 on the online grocery retailing sector

  • Current usage of online grocery shopping and how people receive their orders

  • Which companies people shop online for groceries with.

  • The strategies of the major grocery retailers relating to online

  • Opportunities for expansion of the market.

Areas covered in this Report

This Report includes both market and consumer data around the retailing of grocery products online.

Our market size for online grocery includes:

  • Major grocers’ online sales of food and drink and other grocery products

  • Online-only grocers’ sales

  • Specialist food and drink retailers’ online sales

  • Online-based food box and recipe box delivery schemes.

It excludes:

  • Foodservice delivery (eg restaurant or fast food takeaways ordered online)

  • Home delivery of groceries not ordered online.

Consumer research

The reports in this series include extensive consumer research commissioned exclusively for Mintel. The research was carried out online using a sample of 1,000 internet users in Spain.

It is important to bear in mind that our data represents the views of internet-literate shoppers and is therefore a pointer to the way the market will develop.

For our consumer research this year we asked questions on the following topics:

  • Engagement in online grocery shopping

  • Delivery/collection options for online grocery orders

  • The retailers used for online grocery shopping

  • Reasons for not shopping online for groceries.

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