Validate the opportunity
Is there real demand, at the right price, in the right French channels?
Independent market development · France
Turn French market insight into commercial traction.
AF Consulting helps international health, wellness, food and drinks brands understand the French market, find the right partners and improve real-world sales.
10+years in research & growth
4working languages
France-widefield coverage
Anonymised client findingReal fieldwork
Where is distribution being lost?
43%
of audited stores carried neither portfolio brand
The issue was not national awareness alone. Stores reported ordering constraints, delivery costs, fragmented shelf placement and limited staff knowledge.
Commercial decisionPrioritise pharmacy expansion, simplify ordering and train retail staff.
What companies need
Not more information. A safer, faster route into France.
International teams usually need four decisions resolved before they invest: where to play, how to position, who to approach and what to do next.
Choose the route
Distributor, retailer, private label or direct approach—with a clear rationale.
Reach the market
Qualified targets, buyer-ready materials and support in French conversations.
Launch and improve
From first meetings to store checks, sales review and corrective actions.
Inside the work
Evidence your team can act on.
Every assignment is built around a commercial decision. The output is not a generic market report—it shows what is happening, why it matters and who should act next.
Market reality
Channel economics & market fit
- French price corridor and competitor benchmark
- Margin logic by retailer and distributor route
- Product, pack and claim adaptation priorities
Retail reality
Presence, visibility & barriers
- Store-by-store availability and assortment
- Shelf position, staff feedback and lost-sale reasons
- City and department opportunity ranking
Commercial access
Qualified routes to buyers
- Relevant distributors, retailers and private-label partners
- Named decision-makers and prioritised outreach
- French buyer argument, objections and next step
Launch support
From plan to market movement
- Buyer meetings and local follow-up
- Trade fair preparation and representation
- Launch tracking, store checks and corrective action
Practical expertise
The gap between a market report and a purchase order.
We work where strategy meets shelves: validating demand, identifying decision-makers, testing visibility and supporting the conversations that move opportunities forward.
Market entry France
Market sizing, regulation and route-to-market choices translated into a focused commercial plan.
- Channel and competitor analysis
- Pricing and positioning
- Distributor, retailer and partner shortlist
Retail mapping
A qualified picture of where your category is sold, who matters and where the fastest opportunities sit.
- National and major-city coverage
- Pharmacy, organic, specialist and mass retail
- Buyer and decision-maker research
Store audit & activation
Evidence from the field, not assumptions: availability, assortment, visibility, pricing and staff feedback.
- Physical visits and phone audits
- Shelf and competitor review
- Regional action priorities
Sales optimisation
Turn an existing French presence into stronger distribution, assortment and account performance.
- Portfolio and SKU analysis
- Commercial pipeline support
- Distributor performance review
Trade fair support
Preparation and on-site support for professional fairs, buyer meetings and follow-up.
- Target list and meeting agenda
- Bilingual representation
- Lead qualification and follow-up
Tailored commercial support
A flexible engagement for questions that do not fit neatly into a template—from a one-week sprint to ongoing market development.
Talk through your scope →Selected work · anonymised
A national retail audit that made the next moves visible.
For an international health & wellness portfolio, AF Consulting combined field visits and telephone research across France to assess distribution, shelf presence and commercial barriers.
515retail locations covered
55physical store visits
460stores contacted by phone
4+retail channel types
515locations
74%Organic shops
14%Pharmacies
5%Herbal shops
7%Other channels
The work identified:
- regional strengths and white spaces;
- availability and shelf-visibility gaps;
- ordering and logistics barriers reported by stores;
- priority channels, accounts and staff-training actions.
Working together
Senior thinking. Direct communication. Useful outputs.
01
Frame
A focused call to define the commercial question, target and success criteria.
02
Investigate
Desk research, data analysis and fieldwork designed around the decision.
03
Prioritise
Clear recommendations, ranked opportunities and practical next actions.
04
Activate
Optional outreach, buyer meetings, events and commercial follow-through.
Transparent pricing
Choose a clear starting point.
Every scope is confirmed before work begins. No vague retainers, no mystery deliverables.
France Market Diagnostic
from€950
A focused 2–3 day assessment before you invest in France.
- Product, price and channel fit
- Competitor and route-to-market scan
- Go / adapt / stop priorities
- Action plan and results call
Best for market entry
Retail Mapping & Launch Plan
from€2,500
A commercial launch plan built around the accounts you can realistically reach.
- Channel, distributor and retailer mapping
- Qualified priority target list
- French positioning and buyer argument
- 90-day launch roadmap
France Launch Partner
from€3,500/month
Hands-on local support to turn the plan into meetings, trials and stronger sales.
- Buyer and distributor outreach
- Meeting and trade fair support
- Store audits and launch follow-up
- Weekly pipeline and next-step review
Prices exclude VAT where applicable and any pre-approved travel or third-party costs.
Start with a conversation
What are you trying to achieve in France?
Choose a time between 09:00 and 17:00, Paris time. Availability will be confirmed through Google Calendar.
Meetings available every day · Europe/Paris
Open booking calendar