‘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
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
City centre restaurant with Gordon Ramsay trained chef crowned ‘Scotland's best'
Read on to discover if you've dined in one of the UK's best spots Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTLAND'S best food spot has been crowned at a prestigious industry bash. Lyla in Edinburgh - helmed by a Gordon Ramsay-trained chef - was handed the plaudit from the National Restaurant Awards. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Chef Stuart Ralston's restaurant was crowned the best in Scotland Credit: Justin Rodrigues 4 Chef Ralston and the team accept a Michelin star outside the Edinburgh food spot Credit: Lyla/Instagram 4 The Ritz bagged first place on the list compiled by National Restaurant Awards Credit: Getty The ceremony celebrates the best of British grub as it compiles the country's top 100 places to eat. And Lyla, the brainchild of chef Stuart Ralston, bagged 17th place alongside the crème de la crème of culinary excellence. The Ritz in Mayfair, London scooped first place, Restaurant Moor Hall in Lancashire was second while The Ledbury in Notting Hill, London took home the bronze medal. Triumphant chef Ralston said: 'We are immensely proud and grateful to have been voted Scotland's best restaurant, and for coming 17th in the top 100 in the UK. 'Thank you, National Restaurant Awards for this accolade and to our incredible staff who have worked so hard to make it a possibility.' Ralston once gained experience working in Gordon Ramsay's Michelin-starred restaurant in New York. NATIONAL RESTAURANT AWARDS - TOP 20 The Ritz, London: The top-ranked restaurant, a renowned establishment in Mayfair. Moor Hall, Aughton: A three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Lancashire. The Ledbury, Notting Hill, London: Known for its innovative and refined fine dining experience. Trinity, Clapham, London: A popular restaurant offering modern British cuisine. Bouchon Racine, Clerkenwell, London: Renowned for its expertly crafted French bistro classics. OMA, Southwark, London: A new entrant to the list, known for its chic, Greek-inspired tapas. AngloThai, Marylebone, London: A restaurant celebrating the fusion of Anglo and Thai cuisines. Osip, Bruton, Somerset: Known for its focus on sustainability and local ingredients. Ynyshir, Machynlleth, Powys: A previous winner, known for its unique and idiosyncratic approach to dining. Dorian, Notting Hill, London: A restaurant offering a diverse and flavorful menu. Mountain, Soho, London: Known for its modern take on classic dishes. The Devonshire, Soho, London: A gastropub with a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients. Kiln, Soho, London: A restaurant known for its vibrant and creative dishes. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Chelsea, London: A highly acclaimed fine dining establishment. Woven by Adam Smith: Located at Coworth Park, known for its service and food quality. Ikoyi, Covent Garden, London: A restaurant offering a unique and innovative dining experience. Lyla, Edinburgh: A restaurant celebrating Scottish cuisine. A Wong, Victoria, London: Known for its modern and innovative take on Cantonese cuisine. Da Terra, Bethnal Green, London: A restaurant offering a dynamic and creative dining experience. Brooklands by Claude Bosi, Knightsbridge, London: A restaurant offering a refined and elegant dining experience. In 2023, the award-winning chef opened Lyla in premises once occupied by Paul Kitching's influential 21212 on Royal Terrace. The 28-cover restaurant, billed by Ralston as 'unapologetically fine dining', received a Michelin star in February 2025. The National Restaurant Awards this week commented: 'Lyla is not a fish restaurant per se but is fish-focused, with the majority of the courses on its tasting menu seafood-based. 'With just 10 tables to worry about (and a maximum party size of four), Ralston has been able to up the culinary ante significantly. Gordon Ramsay reveals customers are using BATHROOMS in new skyscraper restaurant for X-rated acts "His previous flagship Aizle has 50 covers – delivering picture-perfect dishes that demonstrate good technique while still allowing his high-quality ingredients to do the talking.' Elsewhere in Edinburgh, The Little Chartroom ranked at number 79 while nearby The Palmerston came in at 97th place.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE British high society tycoon, 65, is found dead at his luxury villa in Marbella after returning from Italian car rally
A British high society tycoon has been found dead at his luxury villa in Marbella, MailOnline has learned. Tarik Wildman, 65, was found dead just hours after returning from a car rally in Italy. A close friend told MailOnline that he died on Sunday at his home in the upmarket and gated La Virginia complex. He said all signs point to natural causes being behind the death, but that an autopsy will shed more light on what happened. MailOnline has contacted the local police and authorities in Marbella for comment. Wildman's American father was Frederick Wildman Jnr., son of Frederick Wildman Snr, who founded the family's wine empire in the 1950s. Frederick Wildman & Sons exports wines and champagne from France to the US and remains a multi-million dollar business. Wildman's British mother, the late Hon Corinna Cunliffe, was a famous fashion magazine editor and the daughter of a baron. Three portraits of her hang in London's National Portrait Gallery. He was also married Susan O'Reilllly, daughter of the late Sir Anthony O'Reilly, from one of Ireland's most prominent families. It is thought he had British, American and Irish citizenship. Tarik's friend from the Classic and Sports Car Club of Andalucia (CSCCA) wrote: 'It is with the utmost sadness that I have to report the death today of my great friend and CSCCA stalwart, Tarik Wildman. 'He had just returned from organising and running his Team Schh rally in Italy which he had done in his beautiful Lancia Flamina, a car he loved. 'He died peacefully in his sleep but, at this moment, the cause is not known. 'He had amazing friends all over the world, had competed in the Monte Carlo Classic rally and had a depth of knowledge of all things that always astonished me. 'His passion for life in general and motoring in particular was something that others could only envy. 'To all his amazing friends, to Susy, his wife and to all the family left behind our heartfelt sympathies go out to you. 'Tarik, you were taken too soon and I for one am going to really miss you. 'The world here will never see the like and will never be the same again. RIP Tarik Wildman, a legend and a titan.' Tarik was known to be a speed freak rally driver and a vintage car enthusiast - and once filmed himself driving 190mph in North Africa. Former model and current writer and campaigner Kristiane Backer said: 'We are all devastated and desperate to hear what happened, Tarik was a party animal and such a force of nature, a kind, thoughtful man… I was due to see him soon , it is very sad'. US TV presenter Ingrid Hoffmann shared a photo of Tarik with her and wrote a fond tribute. She wrote: 'Thank you for being a stand up kind and generous friend, host extraordinaire, creator, planner, navigator and pilot to the most fun adventures and Team Shhhh rally's. 'I am going to miss you and the days and nights spend cooking, talking, drinking, driving and telling stories at your Marbella "La Virginia" and Casa Hombre Salvaje center of the universe of all things fun. 'Capileira that little house above the clouds you loved so much and took all of your friends so we could love it too. Grateful for all the cast of characters now friends you introduced me too. You always wanted all of us to be friends. You leave behind a beautiful family a bigger than life legacy. 'I will miss your naughty spirit, history lessons, poetry, writings, waking all up to beautiful classical music.' Tarik was a well-connected figure, whose friends included the Duke of Rutlands ex-mistress Andrea Webb and the Hon Alexandra Foley.
Fashion United
an hour ago
- Fashion United
French Senate to vote on regulating fast fashion
The French Senate is due to vote Tuesday on a bill to regulate the fast fashion industry, by sanctioning companies and banning advertisements. The bill is targeted at Chinese-founded e-commerce giant Shein, which has a reputation for selling lower quality clothes at a very low price. Easy to order and replace, fast fashion items are exported to France on a large scale, causing pollution and saturating markets. Adopted by the lower house National Assembly in March 2024, the bill will be voted on by the Senate later on Tuesday and is expected to pass, with backing from the government and widespread support in the chamber. The vote is not the final legislative hurdle: a joint committee of senators and lower house deputies is expected to meet from September to produce a joint text, prior to the final adoption of the law. The text plans to "reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry", said Anne-Cecile Violland, the centre-right member of parliament who proposed the bill. Fast fashion is a growing market in France and between 2010 and 2023, the value of advertised products grew from 2.3 billion euros to 3.2 billion euros. Around 48 clothing items per person are released into the French market each year, and 35 are thrown away every second in the country, according to the state environmental agency Ademe. Fast fashion poses a "triple threat", said the minister for ecological transition, Agnes Pannier-Runacher. "It promotes overconsumption, causes ecological disaster and threatens our businesses," she said. Slamming an "invasion" of products that "do not last", the minister expressed hope it would help change things in Europe. Once adopted in France, the European Commission will be notified to ensure it complies with European law according to Pannier-Runacher. Targeting fast fashion The Senate, dominated by the right, modified the bill to target "ultra" fast fashion companies, such as Asian websites Shein ou Temu. The Senate's amendments plan to leave out French and European brands that may be affected by the bill, such as Zara, H&M and Kiabi. The fashion giants will still be obliged to notify their customers about the environmental impact of their products, according to the new bill. "I have no intention of making French brands that contribute to our country's economic vitality pay a single euro," said rapporteur Sylvie Valente Le Hir, member of the right-wing The Republicans party. The bill will impose stricter sanctions on fast fashion companies by scoring their "environmental communication". This "eco-score" will affect all fast fashion companies, Pannier-Runacher said. Those with the lowest scores will be taxed by the government up to 5 euros per product in 2025 and up to 10 euros by 2030. This tax cannot go beyond 50 percent of the price of the original product. Advertisement ban The bill would impose sanctions on influencers who promote such products and ban fast fashion advertisements. The regulation of the fast fashion industry will only succeed with a "collective effort", and not by targeting "a single actor," Shein spokesperson Quentin Ruffat told RTL radio on Monday. According to Ruffat, the law will add "a tax of 10 euros per sold item of clothing by 2030" and "impact the purchasing power" of French people. Environmental organisations are also worried that the law may be misinterpreted. Debates may amount to an interesting framework which still lacks substance, according to Green Senator Jacques Fernique. On Monday, the Textiles Industry Union (UIT) recognised the bill as "a first step" and hoped for its "rapid adoption ... even if the text does not entirely fit our expectations".(AFP)
