French chefs hold protest

27 March 2002 by
French chefs hold protest

Hundreds of chefs held a symbolic "funeral" procession in the French city of Avignon last week to protest against taxes that they said were killing the nation's cuisine.

The army of "cuisiniers", many wearing toques, walked slowly behind an empty coffin which was then thrown into the Rhône river. Pamphlets explaining the demonstration were handed out.

"The French restaurant business, already very ill from unfair taxes and unsuitable regulations and labour charges, did not survive the disdain, ignorance and uncaring attitude of our leaders," read the handouts.

The action was the latest in a month-long campaign by the French hospitality industry to reduce taxes on its sector. Many restaurant and café owners are currently conducting a disobedience campaign by refusing to pay the full 19.6% sales tax that is added to every bill for sit-down meals.

Instead, they are paying only 5.5% - the rate applied to fast-food restaurants that sell takeaway meals.

The protesting chefs complain that the difference in tax is putting them out of business and threatening France's culinary traditions by favouring chains such as McDonald's.

In February a group of 30 restaurateurs invaded the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to unfurl a banner reading: "Restaurateurs: All on strike against 19.6 percent VAT".

by Ian Sparks

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