Shopping at Organic Stores in Paris

Paris has changed regarding the popularity and quantity of organic grocery stores. Years ago, a friend visited Paris whose daughter couldn’t eat grains so I searched for a store that sold gluten-free products. I found only one bakery, but the gluten-free bread was brought in from London on Fridays and it sold fast. Today, the availability of natural, organic and herbal foods has changed dramatically. There are many stores that are known for quality and availability of products both packaged and en vrac, or bulk.

Organic food stores are now in every neighborhood in Paris. They range from independent stores to chains that have several hundred locations throughout France. There are, of course, outdoor food markets in Paris and France, but those tend to be open only on specific dates and focus on fruits and vegetables. If what is needed is non-wheat grains, flour, bread or crackers; herbal tea blends; milk product alternatives; bulk or packaged organic seeds, nuts, grains, spices or herbs; organic wine, eggs, chocolate and many more creative products, then the organic stores are a fun and interesting place to shop.

Christina, who lives in Paris’s 10th arrondissement, shops at La Vie Claire, her local organic store. She tends to purchase chia seeds, tofu, cottage cheese, soy or almond or cashew milk, herbal teas, non-filtered apple cider vinegar and clean household products such as detergents that aren’t often available in conventional grocery stores.

“Some of the organic food stores can feel a bit retro hippie compared to their sleeker US counterparts like Whole Foods, but they are a genuinely rich and helpful resource,” said Christina. “I like that in Paris these are mostly small stores but they have some truly useful products. I also like the wide range of house brand plant milks, which don’t have as many added ingredients as the common ones in North America.”

Many of Paris’ organic food stores are small compared to Monoprix, Franprix or Carrefour, but they have become a strong part of their neighborhoods. La Vie Claire, at 80 years old, is the oldest organic food store chain in France. The Naturalia organic food chain is 53 years old. Both store groups have had an up-and-down history of success, but the popularity of organic food has been growing since the early 2000s thanks to younger generations that are a driving force for organic food consumption. According to Statista, in 2024 73% of French regularly consumed organic products. Here are some of the popular organic stores to explore in Paris.

La Vie Claire

As a pioneer in the distribution of organic products in France, La Vie Claire now has a network of 315 stores throughout the country. It guarantees its organic and natural products are selected to specifications that are more demanding than current regulations. It supports organic farming and holds the Sustainable Business® label in addition to the Agriculture Biologique (AB) that certifies that agricultural, livestock and processed products meet high organic standards.

Stepping into a La Vie Claire, one is greeted by a wide variety of candies, especially chocolates, that all have the AB label. There is also a range of grains, nuts, beans, rice, pastas (even those made from lentils) that are available en vrac. Milk comes in many varieties including sans (without) lactose. Packaged grains include pasta made with chickpeas (pois chiches) plus a selection of freshly made, gluten-free breads that are delivered daily. There is a wide variety of natural wines, and even madeleines made with French bio wheat earning the AB label.

There is a big area of fresh fruits, eggs and vegetables that are organically grown in France and a deli section of organic cheeses, meats and vegan products. If the craving is a quick lunch or snack, enjoy a section of healthy sandwiches, salads and drinks. Move past the food and find organic cosmetics and beauty products, baby products, household and cleaning products.

Christina’s shopping list, from chia seeds to cashew milk to bio-detergent, is an easy check off at La Vie Claire.

Naturalia

Naturalia has more than 200 stores in France, with most located in Paris. Founded in 1972, it was acquired by Monoprix in 2008. That has allowed the chain to grow (it offers more that 10,000 products) and its stores to be a little larger than many of the other organic stores.

The selection offers a wide variety of gluten-free and sans lactose products including almond powder, rice, corn, poppy seed (graines de pavot) or buckwheat (sarrasin) crackers, a selection of non-dairy milk products including sans lactose crème fraiche, cheeses, butter and sans gluten pastas and breads. There is also a variety of spreads including organic chocolate and peanut butter. Interesting drinks are organic cola with natural cane sugar and no additives, and shoyu which is made from rice from Thailand.  There are even bio vegan chorizo snacks.

Many products are packaged in recyclable clear bags but there is also a selection of en vrac products including nuts, pastas and grains. Naturalia claims its fresh fruit and vegetables are grown on open ground, never in heated greenhouses and are never transported by plane. The selection of tomatoes, lettuce, red peppers, asparagus, beans, mushrooms etc looks bright and fresh.

There is a wide selection of natural household products including toilet paper that is make with 70% recyclable paper. Cleaning products include laundry detergent, dishwashing soaps and general cleaning products that are 90%+ natural and are in recyclable packages.

Biocoop

This store network operates on a cooperative basis. Created in 1986, Biocoop has 747 outlets in France, many in Paris. It is not a chain or franchise but a group of more than 300 independent op-operatives (farmers, distributors and stores) that believe the best way to compete with supermarkets is to work together. It starts with small and medium-sized organic farmers (AB rated) in France that work with distributors and store owners for ethical, centralized, biologic food distribution. The farmers respect the environment, biodiversity and humane treatment of animals. No synthetic chemical pesticides are used in a low waste environment.

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The result is a wide selection of natural food and household products. Foods include guacamole, hummus, vegan olive oil, milk and milk alternative products, grains, fruits and vegetables, organic baby food products and even bio and sans alcohol beers. Many food products are vegan and gluten free. There are also laundry care products that are kind to fabrics and the environment, along with natural and bio beauty products such as soaps, aloe vera lotions and even retinal anti-age serums.

For anyone who may be a little unsure about the level of bioethics of products found in stores, the co-op owners at Biocoop can be trusted.

Other Organic Stores

There are many other organic chain stores including Bic c’ Bon, Biomonde (another co-op group), Nous Anti Gaspi and others. Paris is also full of independent organic stores that have a nice range of products. Do an online search for organic stores near you and the list will include the chains of Naturalia, La Vie Claire and others, but include independents such as Mon Épicerie Paris which is 100% vegetable focused, and Bien Épicerie Bio.

Bien Épicerie Bio

The four Bien Épicerie Bio stores in Paris are small but full of quality products including fresh, gluten-free breads, tofu-based products, packaged and en vrac seeds and grains plus a wide variety of crackers and chips including those made with lentils, buckwheat, corn, quinoa, chickpeas, hummus, bananas and black rice. There are many types of flours for cooking, organic spices, a fresh fruit and vegetable area, organic soups, wine, herbal teas and organic cheeses, eggs and meats, including fresh chicken that was raised outdoors (en plein air) without antibiotics. Milks are without lactose. Packages of fermentation powder with probiotics can be used to thicken dessert creams. There are bio home products including “paper” plates made from home compost, bio cooking papers and recyclable trash bags.

Located in the 16th, 5th and two in the 3rd arrondissements, the stores and their products have a gourmet feel to them. The shelves are well stocked for the creative home chef who wants to provide tasty organic meals for friends and family.

Exploring organic shopping is easy, plentiful and fun in Paris today. If there are special food requirements such as lactose-free or without gluten, these products are widely available in Paris now. My friend’s daughter would have no problem finding sans gluten bread. And as Christina says about the many organic shops, “There are a range of products (in the stores) and you don’t have the same selection in a Monoprix.”