According to The Guardian, up to 25 restaurants are closing every day in France. The owners speak of a “model crisis”: attendance is falling, business lunches are disappearing, and customers are increasingly opting for cheaper and quicker dining options.
Fast food is replacing restaurants
Against this background, the market is rebuilding its model. Fast food and chain concepts are driving the main growth, while traditional bistros are losing ground.
Rising costs – for food, energy and labor – remain the key pressure on the industry. At the same time, the influence of delivery services is growing, which can take up to 35% of the cost of an order, reducing the profitability of restaurants.
The French are changing their habits
Consumer habits have also changed. Since the pandemic, the French are less likely to dine out, more likely to work remotely and more likely to use online delivery. This is accelerating the redistribution of demand within the market.
As a result, the sector is increasingly divided into two segments: low-cost fast-casual formats and expensive gastronomic restaurants. It is the middle segment, which has long been the backbone of French restaurant culture, that is losing stability
According to Banque de France, 68,296 corporate bankruptcies, including restaurants, will be recorded in France at the end of 2025.
