This year, consumers in the thirty most populous cities in France are giving greater priority to the artisans in their neighborhoods and their French know-how.
Shopping close to home? The French seem to be increasingly fond of their local shops, according to a study* by American Express, carried out by Statista. This year, 74% of them regularly visit bakeries and pastries, up 9 points compared to 2023. “Almost 41% of them go there every day or every two days”underlines the study.
Bakeries and pastries are not the only ones to benefit from this craze. Pharmacies thus attract 67% of French people (up 12 points compared to 2023), restaurants attract more than one in two consumers (+7 points) and butchers even climb to fourth place in the ranking with 46%. French people who go there regularly (+7 points). Then follow hairdressers for 43% of French people (+6 points) and ready-to-wear stores for four out of ten consumers, up 3 points compared to last year.
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Businesses “essential to our country”
In the thirty most populous cities in France, the observation is clear: the French favor their small traders. But each region has its specialty with, for example, Parisians very attached to their restaurants. They are like this “34% said they go there at least once a week […] and even 17% say they go there two to three times a week (compared to 9% of French people surveyed)”, details the study. In Nice, it is rather the bars/cafes and greengrocers that are popular with residents, since around 40% of them regularly make purchases there.
If, in 2023, wine merchants had conquered the Bordeaux residents, today it is the fishmongers who are doing well this year. Nine out of ten residents say they are satisfied with the number of fish stores they can find near their home, compared to 83% of French people surveyed. In Lyon, delicatessens attract the most gourmets, 45% of them, compared to 37% of French people surveyed. The people of Aix are more fond of reading because “nearly 4 out of 10 Aix residents regularly shop there compared to 31% of French people surveyed”specifies the study. “Between highlighting French know-how and active participation in the life of our neighborhoods, small businesses are more essential than ever to our country”notes Sophie Mahussier, vice-president and general manager of the American Express France merchant network, in conclusion of the study.
*The methodology is based on the study of more than 83,000 local businesses and the opinion of 4,803 French people in the 30 most populated cities in France, as part of an online survey from April 25 to May 22 2024.
