One in Five Not Buying French
By George Anderson
President Bush has declared military victory in Iraq.
The Dixie Chicks are still high on the charts and selling out concerts in the US.
But a USA Today/CNN/Gallup survey says nearly one in five American consumers who once regularly bought French products have stopped because of France’s opposition to the war in Iraq.
Bruce Horovitz wrote in USA Today, “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.”
Roger Simmermaker runs a web site (www.howtobuyamerican.com) which lists French companies for consumers to boycott says, “There’s still a lot of anger out there. This isn’t going to go away anytime soon.”
Harris Teeter exemplifies many retailers’ responses to the anti-French sentiment. The chain is no longer including French wines in its circulars.
Moderator’s Comment: How are consumers’ anti-French
positions affecting American retailers?
Tara Stewart, a spokesperson for Harris Teete,r told USA
Today, “Why put something out there that may provoke a negative reaction?” [George
Anderson – Moderator]