EATING HEALTHILY AT HOME
While eating out continues to eat into the share of household food expenditure, according to the Xerfi research institute, the desire to eat well and entertain at home still has a bright future ahead of it.
Motivated by the need to control their budgets, people are choosing to reserve their restaurant visits for special occasions. To rediscover the joy of sharing a meal with friends or family, there is nothing like home cooking.
In its predictions for 2025, the Pinterest platform notes a desire to pull out all the stops, with a 55% increase in searches for ‘table decorations for dinner’, particularly among baby boomers and Generation X.
While paradoxically, consumers are spending less and less time cooking, the challenge lies in offering convenient formats that are easy to use and prepare. High-quality grocery products can therefore become valuable allies in adding a touch of creativity to simple recipes or dinner parties.
Aware of the difficulties involved in making certain homemade products, customers appreciate quality brands and the expertise of artisans. This is good news for manufacturers of condiments, sauces, spreads and other artisanal pickles.
According to a recent OnePoll study, 38% of us prefer small gatherings at home (Source: Speciality Foods - Article ‘28 food and drink trends to watch in 2025’ - 2025).
Good advice
Producers: Develop ready-to-use gift sets that combine several of your products for a specific occasion (recipe kits, aperitif platters, etc.).
Retailers: Inspire your customers with recipe ideas, unusual flavour combinations, and workshops in-store or on social media.
Examples of brands exhibiting at Gourmet Selection
SOSU
Because sauce is the magic that binds ingredients together, SOSU has made it its mission to put it back at the centre of the plate. Made in France and 100% artisanal, the range has been designed to enhance simple recipes with effortless use. Whether hot or cold, the sauces range from classics such as béarnaise and rouille to more original flavours such as two-citrus sauce and smoked pepper mayonnaise. To ensure the sauce's success, sourcing is rigorous, local, French and seasonal.
Velours de l'Abbaye
Created by two artisan vinegar makers, the Velours de l'Abbaye brand is based on a desire to offer natural, gourmet vinegars. Made from the natural fermentation of organic apple or grape juice in oak barrels to reveal their aromatic power, their unique creations are produced in copper cauldrons to enrich and concentrate the flavours, then refined for several months in dame-Jeanne bottles to allow the herbs and spices to slowly release their flavours. For each vinegar in the range, recipe ideas are available on the brand's website to guide customers.
Herio
Inspired by the former name of the island of Noirmoutier - the island of Her, Herio helps all local energies to promote and popularise Noirmoutier salt. The deliberately small range offers three complementary uses to enhance everyday cooking: coarse salt for preparation (cooking water, slow cooking and salting), fine salt for seasoning (throughout the preparation of a dish) and fleur de sel for finishing (just before serving).
Sold in boxes that are durable and completely corrosion-resistant, Herio salts are also available in refill bags.
AZAÏS-POLITO cannery
For five generations, AZAÏS-POLITO has been drawing on its rich Mediterranean heritage of flavours to create gourmet fish preserves. The only French cannery specialising in Sète specialities to be awarded the ‘Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant’ label, attesting to the excellence of its expertise, it perpetuates traditional techniques that respect taste and traditions by using 100% natural and local products from the three fish markets of the Gulf of Lion. In 2025, it expanded its range of cod brandades for aperitifs with a yuzu or vanilla version, to be spread hot or cold on toast.
