Exporting the French Organic Gastronomy, example in the Netherlands

By denan,
Exporter la Bio Gastronomique Française

Certainly Organic, but moreover, and above all Tasty and Gorgeous. The added values that Denan & Associés brings when negotiating export prices.

Today, organic consumers are no longer satisfied with the sole certification stamp.

They favor healthy ingredients and short recipes (the “Clean Label”), and at the same time they demand a pleasure food, full of flavors.

At the same time, the traditional “delicatessen” consumer has evolved.

Admittedly, he is looking for flavors, refinement and pleasure, but also healthy foods, rich in nutrients, carrying societal and ethical values and health claims.

Moreover, he has the willingness to pay to satisfy these multiple requirements.

These two universes of consumers are found in Bio-Plaisir.

Gone are the days of the sad organic diet, it has come to La Bio Gastronomique; it is the future of French agrifood industry

This French organic legume (pink lentils) pasta is clearly distinguished by a concern for colors, textures and flavors; unequaled to date!

This is why the Dutch No. 1 for organic products mentions it in its consumer magazine – paper and digital – with this magnificent culinary illustration.

These unique qualities are the result of extensive R&D and then an innovative manufacturing process.

Ten years after their implementation, they still constitute an obstacle for competition to enter this fast-growing market.

French gluten-free organic pastas in 732 POS in the UK

By denan,
Les pâtes Bio Provençales dans 732 PDV au Royaume-Uni

Thanks to a listing with the “UK’s Leading Health & Wellbeing Store”

With 732 stores in the UK, almost 250 located in various European countries; and a total of 1600 in 16 countries.

A significant business challenge.

Brexit will not have got the better of this Provençal SME

The European supplier who has not tried commercial negotiation and then the establishment of a referencing with such a giant of British retail trade cannot even imagine the administrative and technical Everest that this represents.

Many thanks to our UK partner comprehensive and helpful staff

Indeed our across the channel best friends are not content to crown their king according to a medieval rite, to drive on the left, to count in Pound Sterling, to weigh in ounces, stones and pounds; 😉…

They also have their own “post Brexit” repositories in terms of referencing their suppliers, and products… which could turn out to be a little disconcerting without the kind and committed support our British customer.

The sea salt from Ile de Ré in German food service

By denan,

From Sept. 2023, certified Organic and IGP Ile de Ré

It is undoubtedly the most traditional and most expensive organic sea salt in the world.

In competition with other European organic sea salts, including Portuguese, it has an appeal above all in terms of origin and image.

The German Ministry of Agriculture wants to develop organic food in canteens and restaurants

On February 15, 2023, the German government adopted amendments to promote the introduction of organic products in out-of-home restaurants, such as canteens, cafeterias and restaurants.*

The amendments, approved by the cabinet, should serve as the basis for a draft ordinance on catering outside biological homes, currently being formalized. **

* & ** source: EURACTIV

Organic export sales increase in Italy with the major multi-channel distributor

By denan,

19 years old already!

In fact, this collaboration is the result of a relationship initiated in September 2004 at the SANA organic fair in Bologna (Emilia Romagna).

Thanks to it, I have introduced there many organic products in Italy..

Essentially, bread products, milk and nut derivatives, gluten-free pasta with legumes (and yes, French pasta in Italy!), protein vegetable preparations, etc…

Already schedules in 2023: launch of 12 new SKUs and …

The introduction of 12 new products will be done in two waves, in January and September.

January sales indicate that the 6 new products for January are already a huge success.

… breaking into 2 new markets !

The launchings within these 2 new networks; pharmacies and para-pharmacies/herbalists on one hand; and the Retail Trade on the other will will be also planned in two strokes.

From the 1st quarter for the supermarkets trade; using a dedicated brand of course.

From May for pharmacies exhibiting with our distributor at the Cosmofarma trade show (05-07/05, Bologna).

Italians are the biggest Pasta eaters in the world.

By denan,

25 kg devoured per person per year (Vs 8 kg for the French)This is why they are readily considered experts in the field.

This Provençal SME is proud to have made Italy its main export market.

This success is mainly due to the innovative manufacturing technology

This Pulse pasta could not be processed so well on standard wheat pasta production lines.

For the simple reason that legume flours have different physico-chemical characteristics.

These Legumes Fusilli can be eaten al dente!

Versus the usual dish close to the very common porridge for this type of pasta.

A specifically developed process, gentle and at low temperature, without industrial additives, respecting the nutritional qualities of the raw materials!

To export to Denmark, the country of the 1st organic consumers in the world!

By denan,
Les pâtes sans gluten Bio française au Danemark avec Denan & Associés

French organic gluten-free pasta in Denmark with Denan & Associés

With 14% (2020), the organic market share is the highest in the world
A small country of nearly 6 million inhabitants but a large organic country; even in the midst of the current economic turmoil.

So, a market to pamper beyond its quantitative volume, for its qualitative potential.

Hegemonic domination of the GMS

In fact, there are hardly any organic shops in Denmark.

With 29% organic market share in 2018, Salling Group and its leading brand, the discounter Netto (more than 500 stores, 17% organic market share) dominate organic distribution alongside Rema 1000 (Reitan group, 326 POS), and SuperBrugsen (234 POS) from Coop Danmark.

Private labeling, the passport to access this very difficult and expensive supermarket to manage from France

This is why the strategic choice of Denan & Associés is to enter into partnerships with local organic cross-brands; provided that they are implemented in all of these brands.

The example here is a private label range

4 gluten-free pasta intended for packaged retail sale;
1 paste for the bulk market; retail, and restoration,
the 5 are also present on the partner’s e-commerce platform.

French gluten-free pasta listed by the first Portuguese organic retail chain

By denan,
Pâtes françaises Bio au Portugal

Celeiro is 50 Organic Specialized Stores constituting the first Portuguese organic store brand. Compared to France, this is the equivalent of a chain of 300 outlets ! …

Portugal, a neglected market

Should we ignore this market, just because it is a small country (10.3M inhabitants), whose minimum wage is only €822; and who would have very different consumption habits from ours?

On the contrary, it offers interesting outlets for French organics.

The German Organic retail adopts the Provençal Grissinis

By denan,


After Pasta (gluten-free) from Provence, Grissinis!!

The border has never been so porous with our neighbours. It is against another transalpine icon that this organic manufacturer based in Provence is successfully challenging.

Here again, it is innovation that makes the difference to export.

Indeed, these Provençal breadsticks show at least three qualitative changes that have been appreciated:

  1. a crispy lamb’s lettuce then melts in the mouth;
  2. a frank flavoring 100% from the ingredients;
  3. a short recipe with an attractive nutritional balance.

This successful range diversification is the result of a “step by step” strategy

  1. To come firstly with a “spearhead” range concentrating the differentiating know-how of the manufacturer;
  2. Being offered to the export distributor partner the means to protect themselves from competition and to communicate;
  3. Once confidence has been established, unroll its complements to the range.

How to export the French Organic Gourmet Foods?

By denan,

The function of packaging.

A tailor-made range : the products were selected in close collaboration with the importer-distributor

The thunderous highlighting of the Corsican origin served by the graphic charter are the framework of a strong, reassuring, hyper-qualitative, indisputable message;… and at little cost.

Through this range of jams, it is indeed all Corsican organic farming that is featured.

Admittedly this “Corsitude” is hammered but does it not constitute an unequaled singularity of these jams?
It is a bias on the scale of the issue; break into an over-mature market where all products display the same quality points.

Here again, the bias is to make full use of the main communication medium for the end consumer, and the least expensive; the facing. This facing too often overlooked or underused.

Militant and dynamic packaging:

Spotlight on the front of the product
Which card to play?

Basically, it doesn’t matter, as long as it :

  • expresses the originality of the product;
  • be educational on the basis of proven arguments;
  • asserts the product Unique Selling Points.
  • Prefer proof to storytelling
  • Banish verbose narrative catchphrases;… “…for six generations…”, hackneyed advice “…to consume with family or friends…”, the all-purpose qualifiers “…delicious…premium…”; the cold and hollow metalanguage of certain communicators.

On the contrary, let us favor objective and measurable arguments.

Self-proclaiming superior taste is subjective, blah-blah; prove that flavors and health benefits result from ingredients:

  • certified and few in number, it can be seen on their list;
  • of identified origin, it can be labeled by an appellation (AOP, IGP, etc.);
  • transformed by a non-destructive process; it is verifiable on the nutritional table.
  • Attention, this rigor should not rhyme with boredom; fantasy, cheerfulness and creativity remain key fuels.

In Benelux, priority to the specialized organic retail trade

By denan,

Thanks to the proven partnership (2004) of Denan & Asso. with the Dutch leader in integrated organic distribution.


Integrated because it is both a successful importer-wholesaler serving 400 retailers and the exclusive owner-operator of the largest MSB network (140 POS) in the Benelux.

The choice of Organic Specialized Stores (MSB) Vs conventional supermarkets

It is the truth that in the Netherlands supermarkets hold around 70% of the organic market share. PDM majority owned by the Albert Heijn brand and its dedicated AH Bio brand.

And yet, Denan & Asso. has always focused on MSB’s because the only ones with whom a lasting partnership is possible.