Economy. How Bercy wants to put France back on the gastronomy map

The government wants to restore the nobility of French gastronomy. The Minister for Business, Olivia Gregoireannounced on Friday a government plan for the French “haute gastronomy” sector.

Less influence?

Echoing the concerns of a generation of French chefs about the supposed decline of their country’s culinary prestige, she cited the fascination with the Asian, Spanish, Danish and even Peruvian scenes. As well as the disappointing results of the French teams in international cooking competitionsBocuse d’Or type.

“Gastronomy has been facing the rise of foreign gastronomy since the end of the 1990s and has found itself left behind by the performance and influence of other countries,” she noted. “Even if we remain among the best, we must once again aim for the top of the podium and know how to stay there,” insisted Ms. Grégoire.

Training center and gastro-diplomacy

This plan, in partnership with Business France, includes the creation of two institutions: a training center for young French talents, particularly for international culinary competitions, which will be managed by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, and the creation of a Federation or Institute of Haute Gastronomy Professions, to structure the sector.

Bercy also wishes to intensify Erasmus-type exchanges of food professions and culinary know-how, relying on programs carried out by embassies and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. “If the best in cocktails are in the United Kingdom, then our young apprentices must be able to go there for five months to perfect their skills,” said the minister.

Abroad, France is also reactivating its gastro-diplomacy programs, via the return of “Goût de / Good France” embassy events, the last edition of which dates back to 2021. It will also support entrepreneurial projects by French chefs in four “growth markets”, including Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

Only 1.5 million euros budget

“Gastronomy is “soft power” (influence, Editor’s note) but it is also “hard money” (income, Editor’s note),” explained the minister. The catering sector represents 35.6 billion euros in turnover and has become, despite the recruitment crisis, the fifth sector with the highest number of jobs in France.

This “haute gastronomy” plan is based on modest funding of 1.5 million euros, two-thirds of which for various culinary events in the regions linked to the Olympic Games (July 26-August 11) and Paralympic Games (August 28-8 september).