Coronavirus and croissants in China

Audio 03:34

A deserted street in the financial district in Beijing, March 3, 2020. NICOLAS ASFOURI / AFP

By: Heike Schmidt

China, a promised land. This is what French entrepreneur Benjamin Devos thought when he founded his French bakery chain in Beijing 15 years ago: Comptoir de France.

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A concept that had quickly hit home. Expatriates and Chinese rushed to the 15 bakeries and pastry shops with their cafes in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, to savor baguettes, croissants or almond financiers. But the Covid-19 turned everything upside down. However, Benjamin Devos is determined to fight for the survival of Comptoir de France. How a French SME in China is trying to keep its head above water.

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  • China
  • Coronavirus
  • France

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