- The regions of Normandy and Hauts-de-France are rich sources of fine food perfectly tailored to speciality retailers
France is renowned for its cuisine, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find that each region can easily hold its own culinary crown – particularly the Northern areas of Normandy and Hauts-de-France, where history, provenance and traditional expertise meet with modern palates and techniques to deliver world-class flavours.
The food businesses within these regions are blessed with a plentiful supply of fine quality produce created by local farmers, and together with the romantic landscapes in which they reside the opportunity for storytelling is rich. Provenance and the use of traditional, highly-skilled production methods are highly valued in these areas – as they are by Speciality Food readers – so the opportunity for the British fine food industry is clear.
Consider too the short distance between the UK and these great French regions; not only does this ensure speed and efficiency in terms of the supply chain – these regions are Britain’s closest overseas neighbours – but also means that the carbon footprint is minimal. The same is true of many of the farmers and suppliers that work with the region’s producers; by sourcing locally, the producers not only support their local economies and the livelihoods of the suppliers within it, but they also keep their environmental impact down.
Indeed, many of the producers of the region have sustainability at their heart and have a keen commitment to ethical production – as well as a pride in their regional identity and larder.
Pauline Gauthier, head of food, drinks and agrifoodtech at Business France UK and Ireland, says, “At Business France, we are passionate about unearthing France’s best producers and introducing them to British retailers seeking something truly special for their customers. Our unique position allows us to identify emerging trends and exceptional quality that can give UK stockists a competitive edge. Whether you’re looking to enhance your range or discover regional specialities from France, we’re your dedicated partners in bringing these extraordinary finds to British plates.”
Health of people and planet
With health concerns being a key driver in the decision-making process of British consumers, retailers will be excited to learn that Northern France has a number of producers raring to support the wellbeing of their customers.
Cider vinegar brand Archie is one such example. By sourcing French apples farmed using ecologically-sound methods to create its bottles of unfiltered cider vinegar, the Archie team has created a highly versatile product that sits as well within store cupboard shelves as an ingredient as it does as a wellness-booster. In fact, Archie has turned the fate of apple cider vinegar on its head; traditionally used in cooking, since launch its founders have passionately championed its additional health benefits. They have created two new goodness-packed products to cater to the growing demand for food-as-medicine: single-serve bottles of Matin Detox and Good Night to bookend a healthy day.
Similarly, Biofair Nutrition’s range of organic bars, snacks, cereals and versatile powders are making the realms of functional on-the-go eating more attractive than ever before thanks to its sustainable methodology. Rather than being packed full of unpronounceable ingredients, as so many of its counterparts are, this range is made using nutrient-rich natural ingredients which are simple and unprocessed.
Plus, sustainability is a key driver for the business – they are committed to sourcing, producing and packaging their range sustainably, for example by rigorously selecting raw materials according to their organic production and sourcing 80% of their ingredients from France (and 50% from Normandy) – so that health-seeking consumers do not need to sacrifice the health of the planet in the quest towards wellness.
British consumers are busier than ever, but all too often convenience can come at the price of quality. Thankfully, Bo’Co Fabrik has the answer: attractive glass jars filled with authentically French ready-to-eat dishes such as duck parmentier, seafood rice and hake with fresh vegetables, as well as modern classics including mac and cheese, made using ingredients sourced from the local area for a true taste of Northern France – and more delicious recipes are in the pipeline.
These chef-quality products mean that shoppers don’t need to sacrifice nutrition when they are time-poor, instead they can indulge in traditional French classics within minutes. Shipped frozen and retailed chilled for optimum freshness, Bo’Co Fabrik offer fine food consumers an optimum – and affordable – way to eat restaurant-level food in the comfort of their homes, via their most trusted retailers.
Quenching the thirst for better
Craft beer is quenching British consumers’ thirsts like never before and its popularity is set to rise, so a business like Brasserie Duyck – an independent French brewery with a heritage dating back to 1922 – is in prime position to satisfy fine food customers this summer and beyond. The business is rich in provenance and history whilst catering for modern tastes; as well as offering low-alcohol options, it produces legendary brews such as Jenlain Biere de Garde, all of which reflect generations of time-honoured knowledge and skills as well as the rich terroir of its region.
No fine food retailer is complete without heritage- and flavour-packed spirits, and Ergaster has both in droves. Master distiller Herve Grangeon has honed his craft over 25 years, and distils organic Hauts-de-France barley in copper pot stills for the brand’s aromatic and complex whisky, catering to the British shopper’s thirst for small-batch spirits crafted by hand. Herve’s gin is also particularly special, having been made using handpicked wild juniper berries for optimum storytelling opportunities.
Clean-label, health-boosting and fully organic products tick a lot of boxes for today’s UK consumer, and Madame Green offers all this and more. This award-winning range of fruit and spice concentrates are deliciously versatile – position them on your spirits shelves to add flavour and nutrition to your customers’ cocktail-making, or simply mix into sparkling water or fruit juice for an alcohol-free option which offers an energy boost without caffeine, sugar or additives.
Satisfying sweet tooths – without sacrifice
British shoppers adore fine quality chocolate, and Normandy and Hauts-de-France have an array of delicacies for them to indulge in. Chevaliers d’Argouges is a proudly artisanal producer of quality chocolate which sources only 100% pure cocoa butter and Fairtrade chocolate, allowing everyone to benefit from its varied and sumptuous range.
The term ‘bean-to-bar’ is highly prized in the world of chocolate, and the team at Encuentro are proud to be purveyors of fully-traceable award-winning chocolate – from ethically-run cocoa farms around the world to shelf via expert production. Supporting local communities is key to their mission, as is using responsible packaging on the full Encuentro range, to ensure that fine food retailers can offer their customers exceptional chocolate products without surrendering ethical credentials.
Buyer insight
In February, Business France brought together producers and buyers to welcome conscientious producers of fine quality food and drink to the British fine food industry. At this seated afternoon tea event, held at the awe inspiring French Embassy, the panel were able to experience the products in person.
Sole Nasi, brand guardian of the Fresh Pasta Company, explains why the regions of Normandy and Hauts-de-France offer a wealth of opportunities to the UK speciality food market
What excited us most about the businesses at the Business France event was their exceptional dedication to quality and craftsmanship. Each brand showcased not only outstanding flavours but also a strong commitment to both tradition and innovation.
I believe customers would be particularly drawn to the authenticity and premium nature of these products. Whether it’s the rich complexity of Archie Cider Vinegar, the comforting and artisanal touch of Bo’Co Fabrik’s homemade meals, the refined chocolate experience from Chocolate Encuentro, or the delicate, indulgent custard tart from Maison Savary – there’s something special for every palate.
As for their potential in the UK market, I see a strong opportunity for these businesses to thrive. British consumers are increasingly seeking high-quality and sustainably produced foods, and these brands align perfectly with that trend. With the right positioning and distribution, they could attract a loyal audience eager to explore these exceptional products.
Tudor Evans, head of commercial at Holleys Fine Foods, believes that speciality French products can prove valuable in the UK’s fine food and drink sphere
At Holleys, we import a range of French products so our customers recognise and appreciate authenticity – which the businesses on show at this event certainly demonstrated – and I can confirm that there is a strong appetite within the fine food and drink sector for genuine French and Continental products.
The smaller scale and family-run nature of these producers is also an attractive prospect as businesses like these are often able to offer flexibility and a willingness to tailor their ranges to our market.
A lot of these brands would work well as gifting options in our customers’ stores; their format and packaging is attractive, which together with their sustainability credentials and authenticity mean that they would be a great fit for the UK speciality food sector.
Producer spotlights
Paul Jaffré, directeur général of traditional bakery Savary, tells the story behind his taste of France
My mission is to give folks bread and pastries they can trust, made with care. No shortcuts, no weird additives – just honest craftsmanship. I’m all about French-first sourcing, because quality starts with knowing your suppliers. When I work directly with farmers and producers, I get to support the kind of agriculture I believe in – sustainable, ethical, and rooted in our terroir.
We’re baking the French way. Think classic recipes, elevated with premium ingredients. Our flan? We keep it simple. 100% grandma-style: raw milk from Thomas Bocquet’s farm down the road, eggs from free-roaming hens, and a pinch of sugar. No fancy techniques, no golden crusts – just the simplicity your great-grandma would recognize. Our bread? Pure sourdough tradition – slow-fermented, crusty, and full of flavour. We let the ingredients speak for themselves. When you bite into our baguette, you’re tasting butter from Normandy, flour from Picardy, and a whole lot of French passion.
Delphine Rochefort, owner of Maison Rochefort, talks us through her business’s savoir-faire
The team and I are motivated by creating artisanal good products from France using selected ingredients, savoir-faire and lots of heart. The founder of the company created our speciality: the Patience biscuit. This biscuit is delicious with an ice cream, a tea, a coffee, and then the long version, with one side coated in chocolate, is perfect with champagne or whisky. In addition to this flagship product, we have other delicious biscuits with or without butter, as well as chocolates and confectionery.
Our location allows us to select carefully our ingredients from Normandy whenever possible – for example, butter, flour, salted butter caramel etc are produced a few kilometres from our company – and our products reflect a balance of flavours, sweet but just right, with the finesse of tastes to be discovered from start to finish. Our ingredients, carefully selected, make our range delicious and really tasty.
