Bananas and Food Security - Bioversity International

Europe : H. Tabuna
Le marché de la banane plantain
en France et en Belgique
Honoré Tabuna
577
Abstract – The market for plantains in France and Belgium and its development
prospects
The market for plantains in France and Belgium is about 30 years old. The main
consumers of this product originate from tropical areas (Africa, Asia, Latin America and
the Antilles), and the market is currentlyexpanding. A study was conducted on the
organisation and operation of thismarket (points of sale, players, distribution channels,
prices, avenues fordevelopment, etc.), which showed that fruits sold in these two
countries are imported from Martinique and Africa (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and the
Democratic Republic of Congo), and also from Latin America (Colombia, CostaRica, etc.)
via the Netherlands. Sales occur primarily in grocery stores specialising in exotic products,
and to a lesser degree in large chain stores. Small quantities go to the organic food
market and to African restaurants, where Europeans especially appreciate this product.
Plantain from Colombia dominates the market and is preferred by most consumers
because of its price, which is half that from other areas. Fruits from Martinique and Africa
are bought by only a small group of persons primarily interested in the origin of the
product.
Based on interviews with persons involved in the trade, plantain appears tobe the most
sought after tropical food product because it is consumed bynearly all immigrant
populations from tropical areas, in contrast wit other foods such as safou (Dacryodes
edulis), whose use is restricted topersons coming from the countries where it is produced.
The market forplantain is undergoing constant growth that should continue and expand
to European consumers increasingly in search of products with new tastes. Studies
conducted in France by SECODIP (Société d’Etude de la Consommation, de la Distribution
et de la Publicité) show that 37 % of the French population purchased « ethnic foods » in
1996. But access to this very important and profitable market (especially for Africa
producers) necessitates strict compliance with importers’requirements (organisation of
distribution networks, development of products adapted to European consumers,
regularity of supply, quality control, etc.), which must be linked to an efficient advertising
policy in the importing countries.
Résumé – Le marché de la banane plantain existe en France et en Belgique depuis plus
d’une trentaine d’années. Il s’agit d’un marché en expansion dont les principaux consom-
Museum national d’histoire naturelle, Paris, France.