500 People Line Up Early for Free Donuts... 'Baguetteguk' Enthralled by US Fast Food

NYT "Hundreds Line Up at US Donut Shops from Dawn"
Simple Meal Culture and Delivery Became Common During the Pandemic

As the eating habits of the younger generation in France, known as the "country of gastronomy," change, American fast-food chain donuts are gaining popularity in Paris, the New York Times reported on the 7th (local time).

The media stated, "The sight of France enthusiastically embracing sugar-coated American donuts would have seemed unrealistic just a generation ago."

Krispy Kreme Paris Store No. 1.
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

According to the New York Times, on the 6th, in a shopping district near the Louvre Museum in central Paris, about 500 people were lined up waiting for the opening of the first Krispy Kreme store in France, an American donut chain.

Some of them stayed overnight in the cold weather from the previous night to receive a coupon that allows them to get 12 Krispy Kreme donuts free every month for a year.

Alexandre Maiju, the general manager of Krispy Kreme France, said, "Donuts are less known in France compared to croissants, but they appeal to the Netflix generation."

The New York Times commented, "France, the birthplace of Michelin-starred restaurants and symbolized by baguettes and croissants, enthusiastically embracing sugar-coated American donuts would have seemed unrealistic just a generation ago."

It is not only "American-style donuts" that are popular among the younger generation in France. American fast-food franchises are rapidly increasing in France.

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American fast-food chain Popeyes opened its first store in Paris this spring, attracting a huge crowd at the time. Popeyes plans to open 350 stores across France. As of last year, McDonald's has about 1,500 stores in France and is achieving high profitability there, second only to the United States.

Hamburger chain Wendy's has also announced plans to enter the French market, and Burger King, KFC, Domino's Pizza, Starbucks, and others that had previously entered France are also planning to expand new stores.

The New York Times explained that the younger generation in France is becoming increasingly accustomed to simple meal cultures, and the spread of food delivery services among young people during the pandemic contributed to the expansion of American fast food.

The fact that fast-food brands are expanding overseas markets after the already saturated U.S. market also played a role.

Aaron Allen, a food and hospitality consulting expert, told the New York Times, "American fast-food brands are fiercely competing," adding, "They are all trying to enter countries where customs are becoming more lenient toward fast food."

Earlier in April, the French local media Le Figaro reported that France, the "country of gastronomy," has become the "kingdom of junk food."

According to the report, sales at fast-food stores in France increased by 26% last year compared to 2021, and the number of stores increased by 17% compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak. The media pointed out that as prices rise, relatively inexpensive fast food is gaining popularity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.