- Title: Belgian appetite for French fries undisturbed by increased prices
- Date: 26th August 2022
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (AUGUST 25, 2022) (REUTERS) FRENCH FRIES FRYING IN OIL WORKER POURING SLICED POTATOES IN OIL WORKER TAKING FRENCH FRIES OUT OF OIL AND INTO PAN MAN PUTTING FRENCH FRIES IN PAPER CONE BEKKEVOORT, BELGIUM (AUGUST 26, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF FRIES MAKERS, BERNARD LEFEVRE, SAYING: "I think that in 2022 we already had one to two (price) increases, yes, of 10 or 20 cents for a cone, which makes 20 to 30 cents in less than a year, which is quite a lot. We are not used to that type of price increases and what I feel is that, especially when (as a fries seller) you receive your energy bill, people wake up and say, 'those 30 cents were not enough'. And that a third increase might occur, yes, I think so." BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (AUGUST 25, 2022) (REUTERS) WORKER PUTTING SAUCE ON FRIES AS BUYERS LOOK ON FRIES IN A CONE BEKKEVOORT, BELGIUM (AUGUST 26, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF FRIES MAKERS, BERNARD LEFEVRE, SAYING: "It is emotionally very very difficult to accept that what is so personal to aa Belgian - his fries- is going to increase in price. Anyhow, if it increases 10 or 20%, you still have a meal for let's say 3 euros, which is still affordable." BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (AUGUST 25, 2022) (REUTERS) BUYERS TAKING FRENCH FRIES AND WALKING AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (French) BELGIAN IT ENGINEER FROM ETTERBEEK, HELAIN SCHOONJANS, 31, SAYING: "Fries are pleasure food which we don't eat everyday. So yes, maybe the prices have gone up, but that won't keep us from enjoying them." EMPLOYEES WORKING IN KIOSK (SOUNDBITE) (English) LATVIAN CIVIL SERVANT FROM RIGA, INNA KUZMINA, 41, SAYING: "I don't really consume French fries often, so for me, it's like an extra. I don't think it's going to be a big impact. But with all other prices, yes, I totally agree that it is awful. But I don't know if we can influence it in any way." (SOUNDBITE) (English) FINNISH CIVIL SERVANT WHO HAS LIVED IN BRUSSELS FOR 25 YEARS, KARI TOLLIKKO, SAYING: "So I think it will have kind of an effect on the restaurants here as well. Because maybe they will order less, and then they will order less drinks. So it's not good for the economy of this place."
- Embargoed: 9th September 2022 12:29
- Keywords: Belgium Chips Drought EU Energy European Union French Fries Potato Reaction Tradition crop food
- Location: BRUSSELS, BEKKEVOORT, MOUSCRON AND BELLEGEM, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BEKKEVOORT, MOUSCRON AND BELLEGEM, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: Droughts,Disaster/Accidents,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA001084826082022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Belgians' appetite for French fries appeared to be undisturbed by increased prices, as Europe's blisteringly hot summer is forecast to reduce the output of the country's potato farmers.
Potatoes, a staple for households whether bought fresh or as prepared items such as fries or crisps, are among summer crops like corn to have suffered from record temperatures and the worst drought in Europe in 500 years.
Parched conditions in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium - the northwestern belt that accounts for most European Union potato output - could push EU production to its lowest on record, below that seen in 2018 when drought also reached northern Europe, according to analysts World Potato Markets.
Bernard Lefevre, who heads the Belgian National Union of fries makers, said the average price of the delicacy already increased by up to 30% since the start of the year notably due to the high cost of cooking oil and soaring energy prices in a context of inflation rates not seen in half a century.
"It is emotionally very difficult to accept that what is so personal to a Belgian, his fries, will increase in price. Anyhow, even with increases of 10 or 20%, you still have a meal for let's say 3 euros, which is still affordable," Lefevre told Reuters.
But at Maison Antoine, a well-known fries kiosk in the Brussels capital Brussels, the price hikes do not seem to bother customers in need for a snack.
"Fries are pleasure food which we don't eat every day. So yes, maybe the prices have gone up, but that won't keep us from enjoying them," said Belgian IT engineer Helain Schoonjans, 31.
The EU's crop monitoring service this week cut its monthly potato yield forecast by 2.5%, though its revised outlook matched average of the past five years.
(Production: Bart Biesemans, Clement Rossignol) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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