French hamburger consumption has surged since 2000, according to research by French restaurant consulting firm Gira (link in French.) Nearly one out of every two sandwiches sold in France last year was a hamburger, up from one out of every seven in 2007, and one of every nine in 2000. In all, nearly one billion hamburgers were sold in the country in 2013, according to Gira’s estimates.
The vast majority of hamburger sales—over 67%—are happening at fast food chains like Quick and McDonald’s. The American burger giant has found particular success in France with its double cheeseburger. “You look at a market like France, they’re hitting on all cylinders,” CEO Don Thompson told investors back in 2010. But more trafitional French cafes and restaurants are putting the beef patties on their menus, too. Three-quarters of French restaurants have at least one burger offering, according to Gira. And people are buying them. Restaurant hamburger sales have jumped by 40% since 2011, Gira CEO Bernard Boutboul told Le Monde.