The global economic downturn is eating into seafood sales in France, according to a new survey published by market research firm TNS Worldpanel.
Though French consumers are spending less on seafood, they remain loyal to the protein, with the number of seafood buyers actually rising from 2008 to 2009.
Conducted on behalf of the French agency FranceAgriMer, the study, which polled of 32,000 consumers, revealed that despite a drop in prices from the highs of mid-2008, seafood sales failed to pick up in 2009.
For the first time in five years, French households spent less on seafood, with overall seafood sales falling 0.4 percent and fresh fish sales dropping 4.5 percent.
While about 80 percent of households continue to buy fresh fish, the frequency and quantity of purchases have dipped - the average consumer bought 12 kilograms of fresh fish between May 2008 and April 2009, compared to 14 kilograms during the same period in 2005.
The fall in fresh fish sales is largely attributed senior citizens and middle-aged couples buying less fish. In contrast, families with children - almost one-quarter of French households - kept up their purchases. They are also major buyers of frozen breaded fish - a considerable one-third of their seafood purchases - and crab sticks.
The report also points out that sales of certain fresh fish products - including mussels, scallops, crustaceans and cod - have benefited from lower prices. "But these gains have not made up for the loss in other fish" products, said the report.
July 20, 2009
