Nancy, capital of board games in France!
An unprecedented project to reindustrialize a board game manufacturing plant in France was launched several months ago by a group of entrepreneurs bringing together game publishers and manufacturers with the support and assistance of the State. , local authorities and regional investment funds.
Their goal: to do better, together, close to home.
For them, it all started from a simple economic observation. With 150 game publishers and 15 distributors, the board game market in France is particularly dynamic and has been growing strongly for several years.
But, paradoxically, almost all of the manufacturing of these games takes place today in Eastern Europe and Asia.
This creates complex issues of logistics, inventory management, transport costs, CSR and carbon footprint, etc.
For professionals, the need to establish in France a board game manufacturing sector bringing together the entire production chain appeared “obvious”.
« Game In France »
Supported in particular by the Blue Orange and Abeilles groups, the company “Game In France” was created to settle in Nancy. Total amount of investment: 5.5 million euros for start-up at the end of the third quarter of 2025. The installation in the Nancy metropolitan area is being finalized and a private fundraising of 1.5 million euros was launched.
Already two-thirds subscribed, the founders’ objective is “to bring together by the end of February a panel of investors interested in both the economic dimension and the meaning of such an unprecedented reindustrialization project in France.”
“Ideal playground”
“With its privileged geographical position, its historic industrial skills and the presence of major players in the gaming sector, the Grand Est region, Lorraine and Nancy constitute an ideal playing field to see such a project emerge in the best conditions”, indicate the leaders of this unique project.
Contacted this Wednesday, December 18, Timothée Leroy, president of Blue Orange, rejoiced: “We had this common need between us, who are competitors, but who get along well, to repatriate the production of board games to France, and to Nancy . Today, Blue Orange manufactures in China, but sometimes we have shortages of orders… In Nancy, we will be able to do everything. »
Christian Molinari, president of Abeilles, near Toulouse, adds: “It was important to us to make Made in France in this sector. France is number 1 or 2 in board games in Europe. The market is huge! And there’s room for everyone. And this consortium, via the company Game In France, will ultimately create around a dozen direct jobs. A new adventure begins! »
