The German organic market a holy grail very difficult to reach

With its multiple retail trademarks and outlets selling organic products, the German market is a major goal in terms of sales.

The main obstacles, a clash of cultures

A Pan-Germanic preference, admitting no exceptions.

A predominantly discount culture – and therefore price – Vs French talent for super-quality – this subtle balance between healthy, nutritional and taste – and therefore extra cost.

A very “Saxon” hyper-rigor that is sometimes incompatible with our “Latin” culture.

However, a trend towards quality is here!

Thus, some organic importer-distributor brands have resolutely positioned themselves in a organic delicatessen niche.

Their strategy is to offer to the German supermarkets a Gourmet alternative of the “main stream” organic foods which compete with low prices for the supermarkets shelves.

Therefore high-quality organic products are sold in several thousand outlets of the main retailers.

This strategy serves as well discount brands looking for an image benefit and… a high customer base.

A positioning matching the French quality.

Go for it, these german partners are pragmatic, efficient and reliable

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.

Following a successful promo at Kaufhoff, Ile de Ré salts, Fleurs de Sel and flavored salts have found a long-lasting german distributor supplying all the ” gourmet food” networks nationally :
1 / Detail GOURMET FOOD: to the main German department stores and gourmet stores (Feinkost Käfer, Meyer, KaDeWe, Kurhausgastronomie, …) and delicatessens.
2 / GMS: REWE – including KARSTADT / KADEWE-, EDEKA, METRO, KAUFHOF, Dohle-Group, Citti / Culinar Head, Globus – Käfer, Meyer / Frankfurt, Scheck, Hieber
3 / HORECA: Hotels (all 5-star hotel chains) and prestige restaurants
4 / VPC, colourers and web-blinds.

After Easter, it’s Christmas for the Norman organic chocolate factory with a large order of craft subjects.

The French organic chocolate is facing a double challenge to be exported in Germany :

  – Impose a chocolate quality, less sugar and cocoa butter that our neighboring European chocolate;
– Justify a higher selling price.

It is the successful challenge by the Normandy chocolate maker with Bio / Fair-Trade Easter chocolates.

The german distributor who listed the French couverture chocolate is a specialist in organic Fair Trade products which very hight graded & very strict specifications.

This is so an excellent result to have been selected for this industrial trial.