In 2023, the number of enterprises in the retail sale of tobacco products in specialized stores in France stood at its current peak before a forecasted decline. By 2024, the sector begins to shrink from 3.46 thousand enterprises, with a trend expected to continue through to 2028, where projections show a decline to 2.49 thousand enterprises. This indicates a consistent year-on-year decrease.

Key future trends to watch for include:

Increasing regulatory pressures and public health campaigns driving down demand.
Potential shift towards alternative products like e-cigarettes impacting traditional tobacco retailers.
Economic factors influencing small business sustainability within the sector.