Healthy snackers opt for fruit

The sector was worth €17.9 million in 2005 compared to €8.6 million in 1998, according to a report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Last year France imported $2.1 million (€1.6m) of raisins, dried figs, apricots and apples as well as dried fruit and nut mixes. The French domestic market appears to be in line with rising popularity of dried fruits worldwide. The product is gaining greater recognition as a snacking option with consumers mindful of obesity and the link between diet and poor health. Market analyst group Leatherhead International predicted in a report last year that the global fruit snack market would grow 30 per cent in sales to reach $3.05 billion (€2.42bn) by 2010. And, according to research from Mintel, UK dried fruit sales were worth £176 million (€262.4m) last year having grown 56 per cent since 2001. Within the French market movement is minimal as large companies with interests elsewhere in the snacking sector and several high-recognition brands dominate. Industry heavyweights Lorenz Bahlsen Snack-World and Intersnack have increased their value market shares 5 per cent and 2 per cent since 2001 while other companies experienced a fall of 8 per cent and the share of private labels remained constant.