Anchor size, the B2B marketplace that connects independent retailers and brands across Europe, takes stock of the past year and the orders placed by the 300,000 European merchants registered with more than 30,000 brands. The opportunity also to reveal the first trends for 2023 to support independent retailers in designing their assortment and allowing them to make the most of the year to come.
Drinks are the big winners of the year 2022 on Ankorstore. The popular category, in terms of income, by French traders, remains delicatessen and drinks at almost 40%, followed by the house and the kitchen (21 %) and beauty (16 %). These performances are also reflected in the most searched product categories this year on the platform. In France, the search for decorative objects comes at the top of a quartet also made up of candles and interior perfumes, aperitifs and spreads and baths and body treatments. Trends confirmed by the best sales since, in the top 5 best-selling products in France, All categories, we find drinks like Jomo (iced teas) egg gimber (cocktail without alcohol), but also natural products from the Endro brand and in particular, its solid mint toothpaste. These sales are also synonymous with another major trend that continues to strengthen, le made in France.
Made in France continues to appeal
In 2022, French merchant customers of the platform made 83% of their spending with French brands, a proportion similar to that of 2021. A trend that is particularly evident in the Delicatessen and Beverages category, where more than 90% of purchases were made from French brands. But this preference for national products is not a French exception. Spanish traders in particular are fond of national brands, especially for delicatessen products (environ 70 %). The trend should strengthen in 2023 for the more than 9,000 French brands present on Ankorstore, which also benefit from significant interest from other European countries, such as Germany, of which 22% of the amount spent in the drinks and delicatessen category was with French brands. In Italy, it is the French brands in the Home and Kitchen category that are performing particularly well (30% of the total amounts spent with brands in the category). Among them, we can notice Kubbick's performance, Monbento or still Ogo Living. More globally, French brands are successfully exported in the Home and Kitchen categories, Child and Grocery and Beverages. Among the most exported on Ankorstore, we can cite Bacanha, My Jolie, Candle and Ferflex.
Regional and responsible products are increasingly sought after
Beyond the attraction for national products, we observe a marked attraction for regional products. The total number of orders placed by French merchants with brands originating from their region amounts to 16%.. They are particularly present in Brittany (20 %) and in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (18 %). Without surprise, the other trend of the year 2022 is linked to responsible products. The filters most used by French merchants when searching on Ankorstore are, in second place behind the category, the location of the brand and, in third place, the filter made in France. For Guillemette Renoul, category manager Home and Kitchen at Ankorstore, “in all product categories, customers want to buy more and more ecological products. This doesn't just mean organic products, but also sustainable materials and reusable products. In addition to durability, there is a big trend towards natural materials, like wood, stone and plants, in interior decoration »
The first keys to a successful assortment for 2023
Ankorstore experts share their recommendations by product category for the current year.
Experts in the Home and Kitchen category recommend that concept stores and decoration stores orient their assortment towards gifts : candles, water bottles, tableware makes sought-after gifts with entry-level prices. In 
color terms, green will continue to set the tone in 2023, with oranges and reds, as well as gold. For the Child universe, the big trend of 2023 will be that of sustainable products, ethical toys and locally made brands. Camille Monzein, account manager chez Ankorstore : “We are also seeing a trend towards products made from recycled materials with the emergence of several new brands across Europe. »
Grocery and Beverages : alcohol-free products are increasingly in demand
“We expect sales of low-sugar drinks to increase, healthy, sparkling and herbal in 2023”, declares Cyrielle Domerg, category manager chez Ankorstore. Initiated in 2022, this trend marked a turning point in the sector last year. Non-alcoholic drinks for an aperitif (verjuice, mead, non-alcoholic spirits) have become democratized and will continue to play a major role in consumers' convivial moments. Another strong point : French know-how in aperitifs (spread, chips, crackers) is at the top of sales and very popular with European distributors who dedicate a large section to it in their stores. “2023 will be a difficult year for retailers due to inflation and energy prices, but high-end grocery products should remain popular with customers.”, considers Cyrielle Domerg.
Beauty : packaging called into question
Beauty side, the packaging, that contribute to a product’s carbon footprint, will be a key subject in 2023, for Luisa Castillo, beauty and fashion expert at Ankorstore. Like other trends, she predicts significant growth for new natural product brands, like sea moss food supplements. The fashion industry, as for her, will strengthen its transition from synthetic fibers to recyclable materials, biosourced and biodegradable.
ANCHOR STORE, A FRENCH UNICORN
Founded in 2019 by four French entrepreneurs, the Ankorstore marketplace today brings together 300,000 merchants, including 40% in France, and 30,000 brands throughout Europe, including more than 9,000 from France. One of the reasons for its success is its commercial proposition to independent traders. : payment period of sixty days, minimum order of 100 euros and shipping costs reimbursed from 300 euros of purchase. The Ankorstore marketplace reached unicorn status in 2021, awarded to non-listed start-ups valued at more than $1 billion.
