Eloïse Trenda
Research Expert covering global food topics with a focus on the French and Spanish markets.
The afternoon snack in France - statistics & facts
In France, traditions surrounding food are both numerous and varied. Indeed, some regions develop their own culinary specialties, while other food-centered traditions are more general. One example of this is the “goûter”, a light afternoon meal eaten between lunch and dinner, at around four in the afternoon, and consisting mostly of sweet foods and a drink.
The goûter
This afternoon snack time is largely targeted towards children. Indeed, four o’clock marks the end of the school day, and the goûter, taken before looking at the day’s homework, is often synonymous with pleasure and freedom. Indeed, as it can be eaten with one’s hands, sometimes on the go, the goûter is rather less formal than many standardized French eating habits (seated meals, precise times, etc.). While it traditionally consisted of a slice of bread with butter and jam, or sometimes even a pain au chocolat, nowadays, many children are eating biscuits and cakes, or industrial pastries. As a result, many companies fight for this high-earning segment, with yearly innovations and product launches. Among the leading categories in this specific market, confectionery generated the highest sales revenue, over 4.2 billion euros in 2022. Nonetheless, the cakes and biscuits segment is also non-negligible. People in France eat an average of 8.3 kilograms of cakes and biscuits per year, with an apparent preference for biscuits and cookies.French snacking
Naturally, the rise of snacking at any time of the day can be observed in most Western countries, not just in France. However, the defined moment of consumption is characteristic of a well-anchored tradition in French people’s consumption patterns. Another peculiarity is that the French snack is generally much sweeter than that of other countries. The revenue of the snack food market overall in France is much lower than other countries like the U.S. and Japan.
