Real cookware. In recent days, the pans – also called “portable sound device” by the prefecture of Hérault – have become instruments of protest. Like Emmanuel Macron, François Braun or even Elisabeth Borne, Roland Lescure, the Minister in charge of Industry, was also treated to a concert of opponents of the pension reform during his trip to Tricastin. But while the head of state tackled the protesting musicians by declaring “it’s not the saucepans that will move France forward”, Roland Lescure instead sides with the manufacturer of kitchen utensils Cristel. The brand had indeed declared on Twitter: “we make pans that move France forward”.
Sunday April 23, on the set of France 3, the Minister of Industry spoke out in favor of a revitalization of the production of saucepans on French territory. “France is producing more and more saucepans, but not enough”, regretted Roland Lescure, bouncing back on the declaration of the Cristel brand. And French saucepans, although they only represent 20% of national sales today, have all the assets to seduce. “For those who use them to welcome us”, the “43 million Tefal stoves that come out every year” from the Seb factory in Rumilly (Haute-Savoie) have the advantage of being “more solid”. “They are a little more expensive, but more solid”, and therefore resist better to the blows of spoons.
With these resounding answers, Roland Lescure is campaigning for Made in France. “In Sainte-Agathe, in the Loire, we knit sweaters that are sold at Auchan. Well-sold sweaters because they are stronger, more durable and more environmental. The saucepan is the same thing,” summed up the minister. For him, “the quality of Made in France is recognized, including in everyday objects, but we must go much further”. The Minister of Industry, for example, hopes to go from 800,000 to 2 million bicycles produced each year in France. “We are in the process of relocating massively. In two years, two hundred more factories have opened in France”, welcomed Roland Lescure, hoping that this positive note will reach the ears of the demonstrators.