Grocery spending in France is starting 2026 on a positive note, driven by increased purchase frequency and a consumer accustomed to more selective cart management. According to the latest data from Worldpanel by Numerator, in the four weeks ending January 25, grocery spending in the general retail channel grew 3,6% year-over-year. This trend was primarily driven by increased in-store visits: on average, each shopper made 0,5 more transactions compared to the same period last year. This finding confirms that the growth trend is driven more by frequency than by an increase in the average receipt.
Among formats, the proximity channel gained 0,4 percentage points, reaching an 8,1% share, thanks to both the arrival of new customers and an increase in visits. Online also consolidated its role: its share rose by 0,3 points to 10,9%, a sign that digital has become a structural part of spending habits. On the operator front, E.Leclerc maintains its leadership with a 24,2% market share, confirming its position as the leading player in the French grocery market.
Follows Carrefour, at 21,7%, down 0,1 points on an annual basis. The group, which recently sold its operations in Romania, recorded a slight decline in value in the domestic market, while volumes remained substantially stable in the last period recorded. The share of Groupement Mousquetaires stands at 17,4%, slightly up from 17,3% a year ago, consolidating its third position in the national ranking.
Particularly significant performance for Cooperative U, which reached 13% market share in the four weeks considered, up from 12,3% in the same period in 2025. This result highlights the cooperative's ability to capture traffic and build customer loyalty in a mature competitive environment. Bucking the trend Lidl, which loses 0,2 points and drops to 7,9%, with a 5% contraction in spending per cart, a sign of lower purchasing intensity.
The decline is more marked Auchan-Retail, at 8,4% (-0,8 points), penalized by a shrinking network and weakening loyalty. Overall, the data shows that French consumers now consider food a flexible component of their household budget, oriented towards compromises and a greater focus on essential products. In this scenario, the brands' ability to leverage frequency, proximity, and perceived value remains a strategic lever for defending and increasing market share.
