25 years ago pickles were produced in France, but as they can only be harvested once a year and India can harvest three times a year, companies progressively turned to India. Currently 80% of the 60 million jars of pickles sold every year in France come from India, the remaining 20% from Eastern Europe.
Franco-Swiss company, Reitzel is trying to resurrect the sector in France in a “sustainable therefore profitable” way. They have agreements with French farmers, promising to buy a certain volume for a certain price, and agreements with retailers to ensure sales.
Reitzel has two French factories which produce 25 million jars a year. In 2017 they will have produced 400,000 jars of pickles from the five farms that have agreed to work with them, compared to 110,000 jars in 2016. One of their farmers, Olivier Corbin, says that his parents produced pickles, so he knew about them. However, the reason he launched into pickle production was because “there was a guarantee behind it : Reitzel has committed to a price and a minimum harvest volume”. Emmanuel Bois, Director General of Reitzel, also explains that the company insures the farmers, “if no pickles are produced, they do not lose money”. Mr Bois says that the project would not be possible without the retailers, “As of the first year, we had agreements with Intermarché, Carrefour and Monoprix”.
French pickles are more expensive. Indian pickles arrive at the factory at €1/kilo, French pickles are €5-€6/kilo. However, Mr Bois explains that they would never be able to sell the jars for 6 times more, so they have decreased their margins. Reitzel France had a €34 million turnover in 2016. Whilst today French pickles represent 1% of the market, they hope to reach 10% in the next ten years by doubling production every year.