France's once-thriving restaurant scene is on the brink of collapse, leaving behind only a handful of high-end establishments catering to the super-rich and fast-food chains. The crisis has been exacerbated by changing consumer habits, rising wholesale food prices, and perverse tax rules.
In the 1970s, business and politics were often conducted over lengthy lunch meetings, but this tradition is now largely extinct. Instead, Gen Z and millennials are opting for healthier eating options at home or grabbing quick meals on the go, rather than dining out.
The pandemic acted as a catalyst for the decline of traditional restaurants. With fewer customers returning to office lunches and many taking advantage of luncheon vouchers that can be spent in supermarkets, the loss of midday trading business has been devastating. Moreover, online shopping, combined with restrictions on driving and parking in urban centers, has further squeezed the industry.
The French government's response to the pandemic has also had a negative impact. By showering restaurateurs with grants during lockdowns, while other businesses received interest-free loans, many took the money for granted and failed to adapt their business models to post-pandemic realities. Instead of investing in healthy eating options, they opted for reheating mass-produced pre-cooked frozen food from wholesalers at lower labor costs.
The result is a crisis that's changing the face of France's hospitality sector. Restaurants are closing at an alarming rate, with 25 going out of business every day, according to Franck Chaumès, president of the Union of Hospitality Trades and Industries. The only businesses bucking this trend are those offering high-end cuisine to the affluent and fast-food chains.
As one restaurateur noted, "I used to serve 75 covers every lunchtime, and we had at least two home-cooked dishes of the day... Now, customers who used to eat out every day came maybe once or twice a week." The shift towards healthier eating options has also led to a decline in sales for restaurants that offer traditional French cuisine.
To combat this crisis, the UMIH has proposed rationing new restaurant openings and licensing only professionals qualified in cooking and accounting. However, so far, these measures have been met with resistance from the industry. As one journalist noted, "The French government showered restaurateurs with money to stay shut during lockdowns... But business never really returned to normal after the pandemic."
With the rise of home-delivery services like Deliveroo and Uber Eats, which often ferry food prepared in "dark kitchens" without a dining room attached, it's clear that traditional restaurants are struggling to adapt. As one restaurant owner noted, "It's a catastrophe for our profession... Some 25 restaurants are going out of business every day."
In the 1970s, business and politics were often conducted over lengthy lunch meetings, but this tradition is now largely extinct. Instead, Gen Z and millennials are opting for healthier eating options at home or grabbing quick meals on the go, rather than dining out.
The pandemic acted as a catalyst for the decline of traditional restaurants. With fewer customers returning to office lunches and many taking advantage of luncheon vouchers that can be spent in supermarkets, the loss of midday trading business has been devastating. Moreover, online shopping, combined with restrictions on driving and parking in urban centers, has further squeezed the industry.
The French government's response to the pandemic has also had a negative impact. By showering restaurateurs with grants during lockdowns, while other businesses received interest-free loans, many took the money for granted and failed to adapt their business models to post-pandemic realities. Instead of investing in healthy eating options, they opted for reheating mass-produced pre-cooked frozen food from wholesalers at lower labor costs.
The result is a crisis that's changing the face of France's hospitality sector. Restaurants are closing at an alarming rate, with 25 going out of business every day, according to Franck Chaumès, president of the Union of Hospitality Trades and Industries. The only businesses bucking this trend are those offering high-end cuisine to the affluent and fast-food chains.
As one restaurateur noted, "I used to serve 75 covers every lunchtime, and we had at least two home-cooked dishes of the day... Now, customers who used to eat out every day came maybe once or twice a week." The shift towards healthier eating options has also led to a decline in sales for restaurants that offer traditional French cuisine.
To combat this crisis, the UMIH has proposed rationing new restaurant openings and licensing only professionals qualified in cooking and accounting. However, so far, these measures have been met with resistance from the industry. As one journalist noted, "The French government showered restaurateurs with money to stay shut during lockdowns... But business never really returned to normal after the pandemic."
With the rise of home-delivery services like Deliveroo and Uber Eats, which often ferry food prepared in "dark kitchens" without a dining room attached, it's clear that traditional restaurants are struggling to adapt. As one restaurant owner noted, "It's a catastrophe for our profession... Some 25 restaurants are going out of business every day."
their restaurant scene is literally dyin lol they used to be all about that fine dining life but now its like who needs good food when u can just order pizza and have it delivered 
. the pandemic was like a death sentence for them, ppl started cookin at home more and diners out less. and then theres this whole thing with government loans and grants...idk man, sounds like they didnt do their research 
. now u gotta be some kinda culinary genius to open a restaurant in france 
the french restaurant scene is literally dying and it's crazy because i mean we all know how much foodie culture is a big part of french identity but it seems like nobody wants to eat at actual restaurants anymore 
it's all about ordering in or grabbing something quick on the go. and the gov has basically killed the midday trading thing which was always a big deal for offices. i think they showered the restaurant owners with grants during lockdowns but didn't really prepare them for when things went back to normal. now we've got loads of old restaurants struggling to stay open 
. i mean, who needs a 3-course lunch when you can just grab a salad at home for 5 bucks? 
and btw, dark kitchens are where it's at now 
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. it's like they say, "if you don't adapt, you get left behind"... and these guys didn't. fast food chains are thriving while all the high-end joints are struggling to stay afloat... maybe it's time for some new rules, like rationing new restaurant openings or making licensing a thing 
they used to have some of the best food in the world and now it's all just about catering to the rich folks and fast food chains 
️ it's like they're losing that special something that made france famous for its cuisine. and it's not just the restaurants, it's the whole culture of eating out with friends and family... those lunch meetings from the 70s are gone for good and now people are all about quick meals at home or on the go 
i feel like they're doing everything wrong - giving grants to restaurants during lockdowns but not teaching them how to adapt to a new reality... it's just a shame 
it's not just about the food, it's about the culture and the community that comes with sharing meals together over a lovely lunch break
it's just a matter of innovating and adapting to the times, you know?
but at the same time, some people did use that money wisely and invested in new ideas, so yeah, it's all a bit messy
that's just insane. i mean, what's next? our beloved pubs and bars closing down too? 
the thought of losing that social aspect of dining out is really making me think... 
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. and now its 25 restaurants closing every day?! thats crazy! 
. But what really gets me is that the government's all about showering restaurateurs with cash during lockdowns, but when they need to adapt their business models now... crickets 
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. It's just too late for that. We should be supporting the little guys who actually care about serving good food, not just catering to the super-rich 
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The UMIH's proposal to ration new restaurant openings and licensing qualifications might not be the worst idea. But at the same time, it feels like they're just trying to pick winners and losers. Like, can't they just help everyone out? 
. It would help prevent some of the newer places from popping up without being ready for the market, which can be a huge risk for established restaurants.
anyway, it's no wonder that high-end restaurants are still doing okay but all those mid-range places are struggling to stay afloat. ugh, i feel bad for all those small business owners who can't keep up with the times... and it's not like the government did anything to help them adapt to the new normal 
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i mean who wants to sit down when you can just order a healthy salad online and have it delivered in 30 mins 
anyway imo its not just the pandemic that killed the industry tho, its also the fact that ppl r getting way too lazy and wanna eat on the go 
. It's like they're being left behind by the times 
. Everyone's moving towards healthy eating at home and grabbing quick meals on the go, which is totally understandable 
. That's like, what, a whole bunch of jobs lost? 
. Maybe they should focus on supporting small businesses and helping them adapt to the new normal 
.
. Who needs a 5-course meal when you can get a 10-minute burrito? 
️ #FoodieProblems