“We have a heritage to defend”: why the mayor of Lyon wants to fight against the invasion of fast food ?

Pourquoi le maire de Lyon veut lutter contre l’invasion des fast-foods, (image d'illustration). MAXPPP – Mourad ALLILI

Thursday March 21, 2024, Grégory Doucet, the mayor of Lyon, announced that he wanted to avoid the installation of too many fast food restaurants in the city center. Traders and elected officials are concerned about this type of catering offer in the city center.

Lyon at war against fast food ? Mayor Grégory Doucet intends in any case to rely on the "bases of commerce and crafts" which will take place this fall to "find solutions to the too many fast-food chains and dark kitchens present in town", he explains to d'ActuLyon.

"A heritage to defend"

While Quick is increasingly present in Lyon, the upcoming installation of a KFC in the historic center is worrying.  "We regret the arrival of this brand in the heart of Lyon, capital of gastronomy", reacted Camille Augey, assistant to the city of Lyon in charge of commerce, on News.

Lyon has a "heritage to defend", insists the environmentalist mayor and these meetings could make it possible to point out the "fast food chains, too little concerned with planetary boundaries, gastronomy and animal welfare".

Rents on the rise

Another fear of Lyon's elected officials is the rise in rents that the "pedestrianization" of certain streets in the city center. While fast food giants should be able to afford to absorb this inflation, small independent businesses and restaurants may be in greater difficulty.