Boycott Grinds on Against French Food, Wine, Travel (Frogs hurting)

USA TODAY ^ | May 1, 2003

[HighWheeler]

SEAFOOD.COM NEWS [USA TODAY] - May 1, 2003 - The war is over. So the French boycott should be toast, right?

Wrong. France continues to take it on the chin -- and in the gut. Nearly one in five Americans who regularly buy French products say they have stopped because of France's outspoken opposition to the war in Iraq, according to a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup survey.

American venom toward the French just won't let up. It's hit everything from travel to wine sales to the unloading of French stocks by American investors.

The French Government Tourist Office -- which figures France will lose about $500 million in American tourist business this year for a variety of reasons -- is taking the situation so seriously that it is about to begin a multicity campaign promoting travel bargains to France.

''We're going to talk directly to the American people,'' says Robin Massee, a tourism spokeswoman.

Their research shows they need to. More than 41% of Americans with French travel plans have modified them in some way, according to a consumer survey on the tourist office's Web site. Requests for French travel information were down 34% in March, Massee says.

''There's still a lot of anger out there,'' says Roger Simmermaker, whose Web site (www.howtobuyamerican.com) touts the ''biggest French Boycott List anywhere'' of French companies. ''This isn't going to go away anytime soon.'' Signs of damage:

* Travel. The French tourist office is about to launch a Club France card with the lure of 10% discounts on everything from plane tickets to hotel bills.

* Trade shows. This summer's Paris Air Show, an aviation convention attracting the world's biggest aerospace companies, expects far fewer U.S. visitors.

* Investments. Montana divested all $15 million worth of French company shares its state investment board managed. ''There's a concern about the price of French stocks if Americans refuse to buy French products,'' executive director Carroll South says.

* Restaurants. Andre Rochat, owner of three French restaurants in Las Vegas, will go to court to pursue charges against a caller who threatened him. The restaurateur's business is off 25%. ''I'm an American citizen,'' Rochat says. ''What about my rights?''

* Consumer products. While limited in scope and effect, American boycotts of French companies have hit everyone from Dannon to L'Oréal.

* Wine. Sales of French wine -- the symbol of French culture -- are way off. Bill Deutsch, whose company, W.J. Deutsch and Sons, is a big U.S. importer of French wine, says his sales are off 10%. ''I've never witnessed anything like this,'' he says.

Supermarket chain Harris Teeter has stopped advertising French wines in its weekly circulars. ''Why put something out there that may provoke a negative reaction?'' poses spokeswoman Tara Stewart.

© Copyright 2003 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

[HighWheeler]

The boycott on frog products is working very well. They are hurting all over the marketplace, and thanks to sites like FR, we know just what items are french origin.

[HighWheeler]

More interesting comparisons:

For the four weeks ending March 23, 2003, total sales of French table wine in the United States dropped by 17.2 percent in case volume, and 19.4 percent in dollar value, compared to a year earlier. For the 52-week period ending March 23, sales were down 13.9 percent in volume and 13 percent in dollar value. IRI's InfoScan tracking service collects scanner data from multiple retail outlets.

In comparison, sales of U.S. table wine in this country only dropped 1.2 percent by case volume for the same four-week period, and 3.2 percent in dollar value. American wine sales were actually up 3.4 percent in volume and 3.6 percent in dollar value for the 52 weeks ending March 23.

[Navy Patriot]

I'm boycotting as fast as I can, I won't even look at the front page of the sunday comics, as I'm boycotting "Doons....". What's a frog going to say to me to make what the French did right or ok?

[Kiss Me Hardy]

Drink Aussie wines. Loyal allies and great taste. The Rosemount Reserve Cab-Sauv at about $15-$18 a bottle is an incredible bargain. If it had a French label, it would go for $50+ a bottle, it's that good.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

I was in charge of buying the wine for a special family occasion.It gave me great pleasure to honor the Aussies who helped us,by purchasing 2 cases of Australian wine.When my brother returns from Iraq,we will be toasting him with sparkling wine from NY ,CA or to thank the Italians and Spaniards-some Prosecco and Cava,respectively.

[stboz]

As I write, I am enjoying a glass of Rosemount Grenache/Shiraz blend. Quite nice....not French.

Moving to California next month. So many wineries, so little time.

[Sonny M]

Here's something that might make you happy. One of my friends works in a restaurant, whenever somone orders wine, something like 80% of the time, they will specifially ask that the wine be not french,(this is when just ordering simple red or white), other times, they will specifically choose a brand that isn't french. The owner isn't sure what to do. (I.E. lower the prices on french wine, raise the price on california wine, not out of political reasons, but for pure economic ones).

[vollmond]

Why would Americans travel to France these days? It's obvious we're not wanted. I wouldn't feel safe.

[Dacus943]

"The French tourist office is about to launch a Club France card with the lure of 10% discounts on everything from plane tickets to hotel bills."

Now only if the french would offer 10% off their in your face BACK STABBING!!!

[Beck_isright]

"''We're going to talk directly to the American people,'' says Robin Massee, a tourism spokeswoman."

Other than Commiefornians and Bostonians, who will listen????

[HighWheeler]

"Now only if the french would offer 10% off their in your face BACK STABBING!!!

They don't need to discount it anymore, they give away backstabbing for free.

[navyblue]

''We're going to talk directly to the American people,'' says Robin Massee, a tourism spokeswoman.

She doesn't need to talk to the American people. She needs to talk to the French president.

[SamAdams76]

Even the cheaper wines on the Rosemount label are pretty darn good. I've gone through several cases of Rosemount Shiraz (priced around $9 a bottle - $12 for an individual bottle) over the past few years. Along with the wines from the Rancho Zabaco label (California), these are my core everyday "table" wines.

[Cicero]

As far as I'm concerned, there's only one way the French can make up for their treachery, and that's to shed their blood on our behalf next time it comes to the crunch--and in a major way. No more whining pseudo-apologies, no more token involvement.

When somebody stabs you in the back at a critical moment, that's bad enough. But when you really look into it, the French have been persistently working against us for years.

[McGavin999]

There's no boycott. We just don't want to buy their stinking stuff or travel to a country that is so anti-American.

We've known about their anti-Americanism for years and simply ignored it, but this time they endangered our troops and our people.

You can put up with an obnoxious person for years but one day they just go too far. That's what's happened with the french.

[JonH]

Lindemann, also from Australia, has a very nice Chardonney and Merlot. Prices are very reasonable.

[1rudeboy]

Did you read the part that says, "No Profanity?"

[reagan_fanatic]

(ahem..) Fruck the Fench