I've been reading about this too and, at the same time, about the surge of "boulangeries" that are not only bakeries in the true sense of the term, but also cafés, sandwich shops, and/or fast-food joints. There was a great program on France Inter last week citing that 17% of meals taken outside of the home in France are now eaten in "bakeries."
The program also pointed out that these establishments are now the biggest competition for McDonald's -- stronger than other fast food chains.
So, to sum it up, I think by moving into smaller towns and villages, "McDos" are desperately looking for new markets. Time will tell if it works.
It's true that many former boulangeries, including the one we patronise, have installed tables and chairs, and will serve their products with coffee or a soda, but if our local is any indication, the patrons are almost entirely tourists. In the village where we spend our summers, people still line up each morning for their croissants and baguettes, taking them back home to enjoy at their leisure. Is there anything quite like biting into a crunchy baguette with butter demi-sel and a favourite confiture? And Time Out just announced that the world's top sandwich remains the baguette au beurre et jambon.
Yes, the "real", smaller boulangeries around here have also installed a table or two. I'm talking more about big chains like Marie Blachère and others that largely set up on the outskirsts of cities, often not far from zones commerciales. They are very busy here (Rodez area) at lunchtime, and it's not with tourists unless they happen to be driving by. I think that is where most of the 17% are going.
On the one hand, I applaud the alternative to American-style fast food, yet on the other, have noticed how much these places increasingly peddle in it. A local, semi-industrial bakery chain that is very popular around here, l'Epi du Rouergue, redid all of their bakery outlets to include signifant sit-down eating space. At first they just served sandwiches and salads, but now I see they have several types of burgers, have increased their pizza selection, and have just added hot dogs...sigh.
The sad truth here this is that all PR is good PR. The french love MacDo and it's central to the way the french eating habits have changed over the last 30 years.
Don't be fooled by the fake shock horrer of the media.
Consumers are voting with their feet and their euros.
I explored some of the numbers here if your interested
I've been reading about this too and, at the same time, about the surge of "boulangeries" that are not only bakeries in the true sense of the term, but also cafés, sandwich shops, and/or fast-food joints. There was a great program on France Inter last week citing that 17% of meals taken outside of the home in France are now eaten in "bakeries."
The program also pointed out that these establishments are now the biggest competition for McDonald's -- stronger than other fast food chains.
So, to sum it up, I think by moving into smaller towns and villages, "McDos" are desperately looking for new markets. Time will tell if it works.
It's true that many former boulangeries, including the one we patronise, have installed tables and chairs, and will serve their products with coffee or a soda, but if our local is any indication, the patrons are almost entirely tourists. In the village where we spend our summers, people still line up each morning for their croissants and baguettes, taking them back home to enjoy at their leisure. Is there anything quite like biting into a crunchy baguette with butter demi-sel and a favourite confiture? And Time Out just announced that the world's top sandwich remains the baguette au beurre et jambon.
Yes, the "real", smaller boulangeries around here have also installed a table or two. I'm talking more about big chains like Marie Blachère and others that largely set up on the outskirsts of cities, often not far from zones commerciales. They are very busy here (Rodez area) at lunchtime, and it's not with tourists unless they happen to be driving by. I think that is where most of the 17% are going.
On the one hand, I applaud the alternative to American-style fast food, yet on the other, have noticed how much these places increasingly peddle in it. A local, semi-industrial bakery chain that is very popular around here, l'Epi du Rouergue, redid all of their bakery outlets to include signifant sit-down eating space. At first they just served sandwiches and salads, but now I see they have several types of burgers, have increased their pizza selection, and have just added hot dogs...sigh.
The sad truth here this is that all PR is good PR. The french love MacDo and it's central to the way the french eating habits have changed over the last 30 years.
Don't be fooled by the fake shock horrer of the media.
Consumers are voting with their feet and their euros.
I explored some of the numbers here if your interested
https://eatlikethefrench.com/how-the-french-eat-in-2025/
The McDonald logo is a sign that I get the terrors about when I see it peeping out in some of the famous locations abroad.
Vertical integration-medical industrial complex-junk food industry …