This Tuesday, the burger is in the spotlight with International Burger Day. The hamburger has made a name for itself in France, the country of ham and butter.
Do you prefer Big Mac, Whopper, or Kentucky Burger? Or perhaps you prefer a more traditional hamburger, served in a restaurant or outside of a fast food chain? Or are you among those who have not yet succumbed to the charm of the hamburger?
How long has it been since that McDonald’s commercial on television, where a grandfather having lunch with his grandchildren wanted to use cutlery to eat? The hamburger, which became popular in the United States, has secured a place in the sun among the French.
More hamburgers than ham and butter
In 2019, 1.7 billion hamburgers were consumed in France, that is, more than 25 per person per year or two per month, according to the catering specialist Gira conseil. Sales increased by 12%. Since 2018, even more hamburgers have been sold than ham and butter sandwiches in France.
Why such demand? The hamburger has the advantage of “bringing together four products that are consumed in large quantities in France: bread, meat, cheese, and French fries,” explained Bernard Boutboul, founder of the company Gira conseil.
The undisputed leader remains McDonald’s with 1,490 restaurants throughout France. There are also 346 Burger King restaurants, 262 Quick restaurants, which have been replaced by KFC for chicken lovers. In recent years, newcomers such as the American Big Fernand or Five Guys have taken a seat at the nation’s table. One must not forget regional entrepreneurs, like former rugby player Patrick Soula, who founded Tommy’s Diner in Toulouse in 1993. Today it has twelve restaurants across France.
On the menu at most restaurants
To enjoy a good hamburger, it is also enough to visit the restaurants in your neighborhood. According to Gira conseil, 85% of the 145,000 restaurants in France offer at least one hamburger on their menu. Furthermore, 75% of the hamburgers consumed in France are ordered in traditional restaurants and not in fast food outlets.
Proof that the hamburger has become a staple in French restaurants.