Who around the world has not heard of France, the country of 1,000 cheeses? The reputation that French dairy products enjoy abroad is the result of the industry’s ongoing investment in quality, food safety and communication.

French quality

For dairy products, “Made in France” is a guarantee of quality, taste and sophistication.

This excellent reputation results from ongoing efforts by the entire industry to guarantee quality at every step of the value chain, through good agricultural practices, milk controls and analyses, R&D, quality management, and so on.

French excellence in food safety

France sets an example in the face of food scandals, like the case of melamine in milk in China. As demonstrated in the production of raw-milk products, the French dairy industry has developed rigorous expertise in managing food safety risks and providing consumers with healthy, safe and good dairy products.

The positive image of dairy products maintained by communication

The global dairy market is highly competitive, so the French industry must communicate to promote its products and develop new uses. This is exactly what it has been doing since 2007 through communication campaigns targeted at countries with a double-digit consumption growth:  firstly, in rich countries such as the United States, Japan, and Korea, and secondly in those that have come to be known as the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China).

These campaigns build on the traditional messages of expertise, quality and so on, but also on the concept of making something one’s own. In Kyoto, Japan, 1000 people were able to take part in a tasting session which combined cheese and tea in a Zen temple.

There are more than 1,500 varieties of dairy products, including 1,200 varieties of cheese!

This wide range of products enables French dairy exporters to cover every market segment:

• Cheese
• Consumer products (yoghurt, cream, butter, etc.)
• Industrial products (milk powder, etc.)

• N°1: Lactalis

2014 revenues: $21.9 billion
N°1 at a global scale for milk

• N°6: Danone

2014 revenues: $14.8 billion 
N°1 at a flobal scale for fresh dairy products

• N°12: Sodiaal

2014 revenues: $7.2 billion
N°2 at a global scale for freh dairy products

• N°14: Bongrain

2014 revenues : $6.1 billion
N°1 at a global scale for cheese specialities

• N°25: Bel

2014 revenues: $3.7 billion
Products sold in more than 120 countries

A market driven by strong population growth worldwide

From 1990 to 2020 the global population will grow on average by 80 million people every year. Starting in 2020, demographers predict growth of 50 million inhabitants per year, bringing the global population to 9 billion by 2050!

Africa and Asia largely have a shortage of dairy products. These countries also suffer from limited access to water and land, which are critical for dairy production. This is an opportunity for the French dairy industry.

Emerging countries: development of a middle class that consumes dairy products

Between 2000 and 2050, consumption of dairy products is expected to double:
- An increase in 45 to 78 kg per inhabitant per year
- Or +1.8% per year on average globally, compared to 0.2 per %year in developed countries, which are mature markets

In 2050, emerging countries will account for two-thirds of dairy product consumption.
This will represent 680 million tonnes, compared to 370 million in developed countries.