“Made in France” is popular abroad, driven by the Olympics, according to a study

“Made in France” is popular in countries like the United States, China, Germany and Italy, particularly since the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, according to a study published Friday. In addition to “luxury”, the quality of French products is widely praised in an OpinionWay survey for CCI France (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) published on the occasion of the 12th “Made in France” MIF Expo show, which is being held in Paris until Monday.

Quality French products

Quality is even the primary reason for their consumption, except in Italy where people tend to succumb to their “prestige”. For Germans and Italians, the “most emblematic” “Made in France” products are cosmetics. The Chinese think first of jewelry and textile-leather goods, the Americans of food, wines and spirits. Almost all of the Chinese surveyed indicate having already consumed French products (97%), compared to 85% for Italians, 76% for Germans and 65% for Americans.

Around three quarters of those questioned would like to “consume more”, and up to 96% for the Chinese, or even consume “a lot more” for 52% of the latter. Between 49% and 59% of those questioned would nevertheless like “greater diversity” in the French offering, between 38% and 56% to have more in stores, between 25% and 49% for these products to be cheaper. 48% of Chinese would like lower customs duties. The Games, according to this survey carried out from October 10 to 16 among representative samples in each country, made people want to consume “Made in France” (from 55% in Germany to 88% in China) or travel to France. (from 59% in Germany and the United States to 89% in China).

“Environmentally responsible” French products

Alain Di Crescenzo, president of CCI France, judges that these results “are heartwarming”. He notes to AFP the “surprising” appetite of the Chinese – a market of 1.5 billion people – for French products, but notes the downside of a presence deemed to be improveable. Noting that only between 20% and 37% of those questioned consider French products “ecologically responsible”, he sees this as a point of communication to be improved.

He also suggests using existing products as “Trojan horses” to export others, such as tableware through food, or parapharmacy through cosmetics. Mr. Di Crescenzo finally recommends “expanding distribution networks” to obtain better visibility of French products in foreign stores.