France 3: "Investigation network" is interested in the business of "Made in France"

Héloïse Goy, with Alexis Patri 11:44 a.m., April 20, 2022

INTERVIEW

The rise of "Made in France" is not new.

But, since the health crisis, the consumption and therefore the production of products made in France have exploded.

It is this explosion that the France 3 magazine "Réseau d'Enquêtes" deciphers on Wednesday evening.

The show takes us behind the scenes of several workshops that manufacture their products in France.

Its presenter, journalist Charles-Henry Boudet, explains to Europe 1 why it was interesting today to look at these tricolor productions.

>> Find the media newspapers every morning at 9:10 a.m. on Europe 1 as well as in replay and podcast here

The turning point of the health crisis

"When we go shopping, we see French flags on windows, products and packaging. We didn't see it 10 years ago," he observes.

"Companies have understood that there is an economic, marketing and consumer interest. By pushing the door of companies, we realize that 'made in France' is really popular.

"With the health crisis, we realized that we did not necessarily need products from the other side of the world to continue living as before, but that we sometimes had to turn to the small local shop or local business", continues Charles-Henry Boudet.

"People began to understand that there was value in getting local producers, merchants and manufacturers to work."

The still strong competition from "made in China"

Viewers will discover that Normandy is the leading flax producer in the world.

This is the reason why Charles-Henry Boudet takes us, in particular, to Calvados.

He takes us on a tour of a workshop that has been manufacturing natural fibers since 1930. This company has never given in to the call to relocate and is reaping the rewards, since it is now seeing its order books explode.

"I asked these business leaders how we competed with 'made in China'. Today, they don't have the answer", specifies Charles-Henry Boudet.

"They explain that they will never be able to reach the same price level. So yes, putting 90 euros in a sweater made in France is not given to everyone. But their argument is that their product can be kept for several years, that they are repairable, that they can be washed and rewashed without being damaged. In the end, the consumer will have spent less."

survey : from words to action

is broadcast on Wednesday evening on France 3 at 11:10 p.m., therefore after the debate between the two rounds.

It is already available on the france.tv site.