Europe Hot Sauce Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Tabasco Pepper Sauce, Habanero Pepper Sauce, Jalapeno Sauce, Sweet and Spicy Sauce, and Others), By Distribution Channel (Mass Merchandisers, Specialist Retailers, Convenience Stores, Online Retail, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2023-2030

Europe is one of the major hot sauce markets globally. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.84% during the forecast period. The global market for hot sauce is projected to grow from USD 2.89 billion in 2022 to USD 5.09 billion by 2030.

Hot sauce is one of the fastest-growing condiments, beloved by many cultures owing to the flavor and sensation it imparts on food. These sauces typically refer to any salsa or seasoning made primarily from chili peppers along with other ingredients. Moreover, the European market size is growing due to the rising usage of hot sauces for cooking purposes and the surging popularity of Asian and Mexican cuisine, which require hot sauces and spicy ingredients. In addition, the increased availability of regional artisanal hot sauces that make use of local and spicy ingredients is also expected to boost demand for these sauces across the region.

Our report on the European market covers the following countries/regions – the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Rest of Europe.

LATEST TRENDS

Growing Popularity of Locally Grown Artisanal Sauces Accelerates the Europe Hot Sauce Market Growth 

The condiment and sauce industries are continually growing and expanding, with each manufacturer giving their all to create the tastiest condiment and sauce recipe. Over the past few years, the demand for products that are made with natural and preservative free ingredients have increased significantly in Europe. This has led to an increased demand for organic products and artisanal sauces. Artisanal sauces in particular are made of premium ingredients, are preservative free, and are in demand among consumers who prefer healthy products. Therefore, several small startups are developing artisanal sauces and marketing their products to such target segments.

• For instance, in November 2022, Killa Hot Sauces, a sauce brand from Bulgaria, introduced a new range of artisanal hot sauces across the Europe market. Flavors, such as fermented hot sauce Ghost Wave and fermented hot sauce Habanero Sriracha, have been launched and are easily available in commercial stores.

DRIVING FACTORS

Rising Variation in Food Culture Due to the Presence of Various Ethnic Groups Boosts Regional Growth

Hot sauces have witnessed a significant expansion in the Europe market due to their rising popularity and increased customer preference for innovative and robust flavors of food. The exploration of food outside the conventional range is leading to a surge in demand for international cuisines, where individuals are also ready to play around with exotic recipes at home as well. Moreover, the growing number of migrants across Europe visiting for various purposes, including work and education, has been transforming the food landscape of these countries. According to the Migration Observatory, 2022, people born outside the U.K. made up around 14.5% of the U.K.’s population by the end of June 2021. Thus, the popularity of Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and other ethnic food variants is increasing in the market, and the local population is willing to experiment with flavors, which, in turn, bolsters the market size.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

High Dependence on Import Activities Limits the Europe Market Growth

The European hot sauce manufacturers are highly dependent on countries, such as India and China, among others, to procure raw materials required for hot sauce production. According to the “Global Associations of Economics Education,” as of 2022, around 40% of the world’s chili is imported to Europe, thus making it the second largest importer of chili across the globe. The increase in overall freight charges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war significantly impacted the overall production cost of hot sauces. Therefore, manufacturers were forced to increase the price of the products. The retail inflation significantly hampered the consumption behaviors of price-sensitive consumers, with a significant proportion switching to products that are budget friendly. This dented the sales of premium products and impacted the market’s growth in the region. Therefore, to reduce production costs, manufacturers are opting to source their ingredients from local suppliers, which reduces the overall production cost of these products. 

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

In terms of competitive landscape, Unilever Plc. and East Coast Chili Company are the key players of the Europe market due to their strong product offerings, active involvement in R&D investments for the acceleration of product launches, and approvals in the coming years.

Other prominent players such as Doctor Salsas and Crazy Bastard Sauce are also leading the market due to their strong distribution networks coupled with increasing manufacturing units. Such strategies are further expected to drive the market share of these companies.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Unilever Plc. (U.K.)


• East Coast Chili Company (U.K.)


• Hot Sauce Emporium (U.K.)


• Pip’s Hot Sauce (U.K.)


• Crazy Bastard Sauce (Germany)


• Doctor Salsas (Spain)


• The Kraft Heinz Company (U.S.)


• Sur Les Quais (France)


• Scovilla (Germany)


• Chilli No. 5 (France)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• December 2022: Doctor Salsas, one of the leading Spanish producers of spicy dressings and sauces, introduced “Carolina Reaper Sauce,” in the market, along with three vegan friendly sauces such as Habanero, Chipotle, and Jalapeno. Moreover, the products are easily available via several distribution channels, such as convenience stores and online channels, which will further help the consumers purchase the products easily.


• September 2021: Kraft Heinz launched its new edition of Venezulian-inspired, avocado based hot sauces, “Kumana,” in the U.K. market. These sauces are made from plant-based ingredients and are available in three flavors, including Hot Original, Sriracha, and Jalapeno. Thus, such product launches further pave the way for the growth of the company.


• July 2021: Luxury hot sauce brand Chilli No. 5 announced the launch of its new gourmet hot sauce, “Devilish Dijoin,” across the European market. This sauce is made up of yellow mustard seeds, sun-ripened yellow peppers, and other raw materials that can be paired with fast foods such as burgers and sandwiches as a hot and spicy dipping sauce. Such launches further help the company expand their brand image as well as fulfill the increased consumer demands across the regional market.

REPORT COVERAGE

The market research report provides qualitative and quantitative insights on the market and a detailed analysis of the Europe market size & growth rate for all possible segments in the market. Along with the market forecast, the report provides an elaborative analysis of the market dynamics and competitive landscape. Various key insights presented in the report are overview of the number of procedures, an overview of price analysis of product types, overview of the regulatory scenario by key countries, pipeline analysis, new product launches, key industry developments – mergers, acquisitions & partnerships, and the impact of COVID-19 on the market.

Report Scope & Segmentation