Peppers: from strategy to action
04 May 2026
At Lagache, products are not ‘just’ products. Peppers are a perfect illustration of this. The Lagache Expedition team is relentless in its pursuit of a long-term pepper strategy that guides its actions.
Why?
Because peppers are the focus of a number of key issues in our business: origin, quality, regularity, logistics, environmental responsibility and the ability to meet growing consumer demand: +5 to 7% per year over the next decade!
Our strategy: exploit the huge potential close to home
France consumes almost 146,000 tonnes of peppers a year, compared with a production of 20,963 tonnes.
This means that over 80% of the volume is imported!
In terms of European production, Spain is the leader in terms of volume, with 1.5 million tonnes, or 49% of total production. The Benelux countries are in2nd place, with 463,000 tonnes, or 15% of production.
A structural imbalance… but also a reality that needs to be dealt with intelligently.
A conviction built over time
Four years ago, we made a choice: to approach peppers as a strategic development area with a clearly defined goal: to offer the French market regular, consistent, high-quality peppers, perfectly suited to a growing demand for largely imported products.
The Benelux countries: a coherent response
Without opposing origins, we have chosen to strongly develop the Belgium/Netherlands area.
Why is this?
✔️ Consistent quality throughout the season
✔️ Beautiful varieties selected for their firmness, taste and colour.
Red: Matthieu, Marghrete, Alzamora. Green: Frazier. Orange: Silverstone. Yellow: Levanthe and Jedda.
✔️ Clear logistical links with French consumer regions
A pepper from the Benelux countries travels 3 to 5 times less kilometres than a pepper from southern Europe! And that’s a fact. And that counts, both for the freshness of the product… and for the global impact, which is an essential part of our corporate strategy.
A strategy that works
Starting out with a confidential tonnage four years ago, we have gradually built up this sector:
- more than 2,000 tonnes marketed by 2024
- almost 4,000 tonnes today
- a short-term target of 5 to 6,000 tonnes
This progress is no accident.
✔️ It’s based on in-depth work with our partner producers and their cooperatives. And it works, since we market 25% of the volumes exported from the Benelux countries to France.
✔️ And above all, on the trust of our customers.
What about tomorrow? Rethinking French production
Another lesson is that France’s production potential is largely under-exploited.
With an estimated shortfall of over 80,000 tonnes, the question of relocation clearly arises.
We are working on this. But these projects require time, heavy investment and an appropriate framework.
