Drive in France

The French retail landscape has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, marked by the meteoric emergence of the drive concept, an innovative distribution method that has won over the French. The rise of the drive-thru in France is redefining consumer habits and stimulating increased competition in the food market. From the early days of drive-through to the present day, how has the concept progressed, what are the market trends and what is the current state of the drive-through concept in France?

The current state of drive development in France

In France, the drive has enjoyed dynamic growth since its inception, testifying to the rapid adoption of this distribution model by consumers. According to recent data, the number of drives has increased significantly in recent years, reflecting growing demand for more flexible and convenient shopping solutions. Although the penetration rate of the drive-in channel has gradually declined over the past few years, it is still well above the 2019 level, at 32.7% today versus 25.5% in 2019. (1)

The appeal of the drive remains with the French, with a large number of "Covid e-shoppers" retaining their online consumption habits. In 2022, drive sales will total 10.7 billion euros, an increase of 54% on 2019 sales of 6.8 billion. (1)

In view of this growing appeal, the latest statistics point to substantial growth in the number of drives in France. On April 1, 2023, there were 7,026 drives in France, an increase of 577 drives over a one-year period. (1) Drives are expanding throughout France, both in major cities and in rural areas. Recent years have also seen the development of pedestrian drives, of which there are now 1,025 in France. (1)

Who are the major players in the French drive market?

French supermarket chains such as Carrefour, Leclerc and Intermarché dominate the French drive-in market. The unique positioning of each brand in the drive market, based on specific strategies, contributes to the sector's diversity and competitiveness.

In 2022, Leclerc Drive will have the largest market share, with 44% of total sales of 4,760 million euros. (1) Next come Carrefour Drive, Drive Intermarché, U Drive, Auchan Drive and Chronodrive. Leclerc remains the leader in the French drive sector, and is targeting sales of 5 billion euros by 2023. (1)

As far as the number of drives is concerned, however, Intermarché Drive has the largest number, with 1,809 drives as of April 2023. (1) Carrefour Drive is in second place, with 1,789 drives, followed by U Drive and its 937 drives, while Leclerc drive is only in fourth place with 863 drives. The biggest change concerns Carrefour Drive, which gained 355 drives over the year, while Auchan Drive lost 11 drives compared with last year. (1) In an increasingly competitive market, constant innovation is a key differentiating factor for supermarket chains.

Outside the mass retail sector, the drivetrain landscape is evolving in France, and is gradually spreading to food and non-food outlets, inspired by the changing consumption patterns of the French.

Market growth and outlook for France

Growth prospects for the French drive-in market remain optimistic, with forecasts pointing to continued expansion over the next few years. Experts expect the number of drives to increase significantly, underpinned by persistent consumer demand for convenient shopping solutions. These forecasts are underpinned by the growing trend towards digitization of consumer habits.

To meet the growing competition and challenges of the drive-thru market, major retailers are currently investing heavily in logistics and technology to boost the operational efficiency of their drive-thru services. Market players are also working to diversify and expand their online product ranges to meet the expectations of increasingly demanding customers, adapting their services to tomorrow's consumer trends.

1. Olivier Dauvers. L'Essentiel Drive & E-commerce alimentaire 3rd edition. April 21, 2023. Accessed December 19, 2023. https://www.olivierdauvers.fr/2023/04/21/lessentiel-drive-e-commerce-alimentaire-3eme-edition/