
‘Young people no longer peel much': what's behind the French frozen chip boom?
Name: Frites surgelées.
I beg your pardon? Sorry, that's frozen chips to you non-French-speakers.
Age: Plus de 75 ans.
Stop this, and why are you speaking in French anyway? Because frozen chips are undergoing a spectacular boom in France, where farmers are so desperate to meet the demand for ice-cold potato products that they're ripping up other crops to plant even more spuds.
Mon dieu! See, now you're doing it!
So which uncouth country are they selling all these frozen chips to? It's going to be the UK, isn't it? Nope: it's the French themselves, who are said to have developed an insatiable appetite for the snack.
But this is France! Home of bouillabaisse and boeuf bourgignon! Surely these gastronomic elites don't eat such rubbish? It seems the French are actually rather keen on la malbouffe (junk food) these days. There's been roughly a 25% rise in the French frozen chip market over recent years, according to La Voix du Nord, and they're not just munching on the stylish, slender French fry but the thick-cut British oven chip too.
Scandaleux! It's apparently being driven by French youth, who can't be bothered faffing around in the kitchen. 'Young generations no longer peel much,' is how Ward Claerbout, legal and external affairs director for Belgian frozen chip giant Agristo, puts it.
It's all the fault of those pesky young people again, I see. Isn't everything? But the rapid expansion is also being blamed on Dutch and Belgian farmers who, unable to buy land in their own countries, are snapping up territory in northern France. Apparently, in Chip Valley, fields worth €15,000 a hectare three years ago are now exchanging hands for almost double that.
Sorry, in where? Oh yes, Chip Valley – or La Vallée de la Frite as it's become known. It's the new Silicon Valley. Only for, erm, chips.
And just as lucrative? According to a report in the Times, the global market in frozen potato products is expected to grow from $7.27bn in 2023 to $89.51bn in 2029!
People are going to be eating more than 12 times as many chips in six years' time?! That's not going to help the obesity crisis. Relax, the Times got their sums wrong: the actual 2023 figure is $67.27bn, so we will be eating a lot more chips, but not participating in a global edition of Man v Food.
Do say: Got any McCains to go with this duck à l'orange?
Don't say: Je préfère le riz.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

South Wales Argus
25 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Nigel Farage calls for ‘re-industrialisation' of Wales
On a visit to South Wales, the leader of Reform UK said the resumption of traditional steelmaking and coal production is the party's long-term ambition if it comes to power. The speech came one year ahead of the Senedd elections in May next year, where the party is looking to end Labour's 26 years of domination. Addressing reporters, Mr Farage acknowledged that plans to open a traditional furnace could take years and cost 'in the low billions'. The GMB Union has branded the plans 'more lies from an opportunistic chancer'. Port Talbot's remaining blast furnaces were shut down in September, with a new electric arc furnace being built in their place. Tata Steel, the owner of the plant, said the closure of the furnaces was necessary, with the steelworks losing £1m a day. 'Our ambition is to re-industrialise Wales,' Mr Farage said. 'We are going to be using more steel over the next few years than we have probably ever used. 'As we increase military spending and as we attempt a house building programme in Wales, and even more so in England, of massive proportions, just to catch up with the population explosion over the last 20 years, we are going to need a lot of steel.' Tata Steel's Port Talbot steelworks in south Wales (Ben Birchall/PA) The Reform leader said 'specific types of coal' are needed in the UK, particularly for a new blast furnace. 'I'm not saying let's open all of the pits,' he said. 'What I am saying is coal, specific types of coal for certain uses that we still need in this country – and we certainly will need for the blast furnaces here – we should be producing ourselves rather than importing.' While he acknowledged 'mining is dangerous', Mr Farage said the industry could provide well-paying jobs. The Reform leader acknowledged the plan to open a new furnace would cost 'in the low billions' and would be 'no easy thing'. 'It's a massive, expensive job to reopen blast furnaces, we're going to need cheaper energy, we're going to need much cheaper coal, we are going to need private business partners prepared to come into a joint venture,' he said. Responding to the GMB Union allegations that his party's plans were 'lies', Mr Farage said the union was tied to the Labour Party as one of its biggest funders. He said: 'They see us as a challenge, and therefore, they'll be rude about us. 'What you will find is that increasingly, GMB members are going to vote for us, and the more GMB members vote for us, the more upset GMB officials and leaders will become. 'Frankly, the trade unions have done nothing to protect British workers through open borders over the last 20-25 years.' During his speech, Mr Farage said he doubted that the electric arc furnace, which is due to come online in 2028, 'will ever, ever be switched on'. Challenged on what evidence he had, he argued that with British energy prices being so high, it would be producing 'very, very expensive secondary steel'. He added: 'I hope I'm wrong, an electric arc furnace is not the real deal, but it's better than nothing.' Mr Farage said the party's campaign for the Senedd election next May 'starts today', but would not say when Reform would announce a leader in Wales. Regional officer Ruth Brady, speaking at the GMB's annual conference in Brighton, said: 'The people of Port Talbot will see this for what it is – more lies from this opportunistic chancer. 'Nigel Farage was happy to let British Steel go to the wall. He'll trot out any line when the cameras are rolling. He doesn't care about steel communities or steel workers.' Ms Brady said the plans to shut the blast furnaces were made by the last Tory government and the union wanted Labour to 'make good on their promises to our members in Port Talbot'. Political opponents hit out at Reform's plans, with a Welsh Labour spokesperson saying the people of Wales would 'see through' Mr Farage's false hopes and promises. 'His answer is to bring back the mines. The only thing Nigel Farage is trying to mine is votes from communities that have already gone through tough times,' they said. 'Nigel Farage has today brought his fantasy politics and magic money tree to Port Talbot. He's gambling with real people's livelihoods.' Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, accused Mr Farage of making 'wild promises' without speaking to Tata. Welsh Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick argued mining was Wales' past, not its future. Nigel Farage acknowledged 'mining is dangerous' but said the industry could provide well-paying jobs (Ben Birchall/PA) 'My relatives in South Wales worked hard to ensure that their children and grandchildren wouldn't have to do the dangerous work of going down the pits and for future generations to have better opportunities in life,' he said. 'The fact that Nigel Farage doesn't see this shows how poorly he understands Welsh communities.' Heledd Fychan, speaking for Plaid Cymru, accused Mr Farage of 'taking advantage' after the industry said reopening the existing furnaces would be 'impossible.' 'You can imagine my surprise at his calls to reopen the coal mines in Wales, especially considering the actions taken by his political hero, Margaret Thatcher,' she said. 'Reform clearly have no interest in actually improving the lives of the people of Wales, they can only come up with unrealistic and unsubstantiated headlines that will be of no material benefit to the people of Port Talbot or Wales. Greenpeace also hit out at the plans, saying bringing back British coal 'has about as much chance of success as resurrecting dinosaurs'.


Scottish Sun
29 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Amsterdam MEGA brothel takes huge leap towards becoming reality: 5-floor red light romp-factory to house 100 sex workers
It comes as part of Dutch attempts to clear their capital's reputation and improve its image as a historical city TOWER OF SIN Amsterdam MEGA brothel takes huge leap towards becoming reality: 5-floor red light romp-factory to house 100 sex workers Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AMSTERDAM may soon have a mega Dutch brothel that will span over five floors and house hundreds of sex workers. Incredible plans have been revealed for Erotisch Centrum - a multi-million dollar building with multiple bars and erotic entertainment venues - including a strip club. 7 Sex workers are seen behind windows at the red light district in Amsterdam Credit: Corbis - Getty 7 The Moulin Rouge Bar and sex shop in Amsterdam's red light district Credit: Alamy 7 A concept photo shows the five-story mega-brothel that is being planned to replace the city's red light district Credit: Moke Architechten 7 Amsterdam City Council has long been planning to build a massive brothel to relocate prostitutes away from the city's current red light district. And from this week, residents will be able to respond to the plans that are being backed by the city's mayor herself. According to Femke Halsema, the space will ensure safer working conditions, reduce criminality and tackle human trafficking. Concept designs revealed in 2020 showed two towers in red and black with spiral ramps. read more world news GHOST GROPER I worked in brothel where Lamar Odom overdosed - it's HAUNTED by former owner It comes as part of Dutch attempts to clear their capital's reputation and improve its image as a historical city. The city eventually plans to shut down the centuries-old red light district, which is popular for its neon-lit windows where sex workers stand and try to attract customers. But many residents - and prostitutes - have already voiced their concerns about the plans. World's largest brothel in Cologne Germany fully booked for Euros In December 2023, Mayor Halsema proposed that the building should be built in Zuid - an affluential district in the south of the city. The plans for a building solely dedicated to sex work were supposed to provide safe working conditions. But it has attracted a wealth of criticism claiming that it does the exact opposite. Some sex workers have decried being pushed out of the historic centre of prostitution, De Wallen, saying that other areas are prone to stigma and they could be at risk when travelling to and from work. During a public discussion on the planning, former sex worker Mariska Majoor, said: "A prostitution window on the street is very different from one in a closed erotic centre. "The location is dark at night. There will be more stigma and more danger. "I'm worried they will be waited for on the paths by people with nefarious plans." While another sex worker added: "Sex workers have moved from doorways to windows…and now into a segregated centre pushed to the edge of town, out of sight, out of mind. "Keep your laws off our bodies and no erotic prisons." Over 40 people spoke out against the plans during the public discussion - with some even going as far as to compare the brothel to a 16th century "spinning house" that marked "fallen women". The European Medicines Agency, who moved to the Zuid district in 2019, have said that they are "extremely concerned" by the plans. A spokesman for the agency said: 'EMA is very concerned that this will create safety, security and nuisance issues. 'The change of the location of the red light district is motivated by concerns of nuisance, drug-dealing, drunkenness and disorderly behaviour. 'Locating the Erotic Centre in close proximity to EMA's building is likely to bring the same negative impacts to the adjacent area. 7 A sex worker standing infront of a mirror in the red light area Credit: Getty - Contributor 7 Amsterdam's red-light district at night Credit: Getty 7 The plans for a building solely dedicated to sex work was supposed to provide safe working conditions Credit: Getty '(We will be taking this to the) highest appropriate political and diplomatic level to ensure a safe working environment. 'EMA's work is essential for the protection of public health in the EU, and this should not be jeopardised by fears of staff and EU experts coming to EMA's building.' So far, only seven people have spoken out in favour of the plans - among them, a male sex worker called Richard Jones. Jones believes that the mega brothel could create more space for sex workers from minority groups. He said that these sex workers are currently working in homes, either their own or their clients, and that this poses a big safety risk. Jones went on to argue that if they had access to a large space, tailor-made for sex work, these minorities would be much safer. He also added: 'People who say they don't want it in their neighbourhood don't realise it is already happening…with their husbands, their friends, with them themselves. "At the moment, your houses are our workplaces.'

Leader Live
37 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Nigel Farage calls for ‘re-industrialisation' of Wales
On a visit to South Wales, the leader of Reform UK said the resumption of traditional steelmaking and coal production is the party's long-term ambition if it comes to power. The speech came one year ahead of the Senedd elections in May next year, where the party is looking to end Labour's 26 years of domination. Addressing reporters, Mr Farage acknowledged that plans to open a traditional furnace could take years and cost 'in the low billions'. The GMB Union has branded the plans 'more lies from an opportunistic chancer'. Port Talbot's remaining blast furnaces were shut down in September, with a new electric arc furnace being built in their place. Tata Steel, the owner of the plant, said the closure of the furnaces was necessary, with the steelworks losing £1m a day. 'Our ambition is to re-industrialise Wales,' Mr Farage said. 'We are going to be using more steel over the next few years than we have probably ever used. 'As we increase military spending and as we attempt a house building programme in Wales, and even more so in England, of massive proportions, just to catch up with the population explosion over the last 20 years, we are going to need a lot of steel.' The Reform leader said 'specific types of coal' are needed in the UK, particularly for a new blast furnace. 'I'm not saying let's open all of the pits,' he said. 'What I am saying is coal, specific types of coal for certain uses that we still need in this country – and we certainly will need for the blast furnaces here – we should be producing ourselves rather than importing.' While he acknowledged 'mining is dangerous', Mr Farage said the industry could provide well-paying jobs. The Reform leader acknowledged the plan to open a new furnace would cost 'in the low billions' and would be 'no easy thing'. 'It's a massive, expensive job to reopen blast furnaces, we're going to need cheaper energy, we're going to need much cheaper coal, we are going to need private business partners prepared to come into a joint venture,' he said. Responding to the GMB Union allegations that his party's plans were 'lies', Mr Farage said the union was tied to the Labour Party as one of its biggest funders. He said: 'They see us as a challenge, and therefore, they'll be rude about us. 'What you will find is that increasingly, GMB members are going to vote for us, and the more GMB members vote for us, the more upset GMB officials and leaders will become. 'Frankly, the trade unions have done nothing to protect British workers through open borders over the last 20-25 years.' During his speech, Mr Farage said he doubted that the electric arc furnace, which is due to come online in 2028, 'will ever, ever be switched on'. Challenged on what evidence he had, he argued that with British energy prices being so high, it would be producing 'very, very expensive secondary steel'. He added: 'I hope I'm wrong, an electric arc furnace is not the real deal, but it's better than nothing.' Mr Farage said the party's campaign for the Senedd election next May 'starts today', but would not say when Reform would announce a leader in Wales. Regional officer Ruth Brady, speaking at the GMB's annual conference in Brighton, said: 'The people of Port Talbot will see this for what it is – more lies from this opportunistic chancer. 'Nigel Farage was happy to let British Steel go to the wall. He'll trot out any line when the cameras are rolling. He doesn't care about steel communities or steel workers.' Ms Brady said the plans to shut the blast furnaces were made by the last Tory government and the union wanted Labour to 'make good on their promises to our members in Port Talbot'. Political opponents hit out at Reform's plans, with a Welsh Labour spokesperson saying the people of Wales would 'see through' Mr Farage's false hopes and promises. 'His answer is to bring back the mines. The only thing Nigel Farage is trying to mine is votes from communities that have already gone through tough times,' they said. 'Nigel Farage has today brought his fantasy politics and magic money tree to Port Talbot. He's gambling with real people's livelihoods.' Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, accused Mr Farage of making 'wild promises' without speaking to Tata. Welsh Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick argued mining was Wales' past, not its future. 'My relatives in South Wales worked hard to ensure that their children and grandchildren wouldn't have to do the dangerous work of going down the pits and for future generations to have better opportunities in life,' he said. 'The fact that Nigel Farage doesn't see this shows how poorly he understands Welsh communities.' Heledd Fychan, speaking for Plaid Cymru, accused Mr Farage of 'taking advantage' after the industry said reopening the existing furnaces would be 'impossible.' 'You can imagine my surprise at his calls to reopen the coal mines in Wales, especially considering the actions taken by his political hero, Margaret Thatcher,' she said. 'Reform clearly have no interest in actually improving the lives of the people of Wales, they can only come up with unrealistic and unsubstantiated headlines that will be of no material benefit to the people of Port Talbot or Wales. Greenpeace also hit out at the plans, saying bringing back British coal 'has about as much chance of success as resurrecting dinosaurs'.