Haribo, Renault, EDF... Why corporate tourism is increasingly popular in France

Who hasn't dreamed of visiting a Renault factory, Haribo candy, or EDF power plants? Company tours are booming, attracting a total of 22 million curious visitors in 2024, a 30% increase since 2019.
There are no fewer than 4,000 businesses that you can visit, which opened their doors last year. The most popular are EDF electricity plants, like dams or nuclear power plants, with 500,000 visitors last year. Or the agri-food sector, 37% of visits, particularly confectionery companies, like Niniches lollipops on Belle-Ile or the caramels of Maison Pèlerin, near Mont-Saint-Michel . The French love to discover these places of creation and production.
But how can we explain such enthusiasm? First, because visiting these companies is also an opportunity to discover French know-how, a mark of national pride and greatness. People come to discover French skill and technology.
Then there's the defense of the "Made in France" label, highly valued by public opinion. Going on-site means confirming the origin and traceability, and seeing with your own eyes that French industry and French craftsmanship are still there.
Finally, the company is part of the national heritage, just like museums and monuments. Peugeot, Renault, and Citroën are as well-known in the French collective unconscious as Mont-Saint-Michel or Notre-Dame de Paris.
And what's more, visiting these businesses also supports their economy. So it's a win-win situation. Visitors come in large numbers, consume goods, and support the businesses' reputation, awareness, and revenue. It's an economic issue.
The average price of an entrance ticket for a tour is 9 euros. It was 5.90 euros in 2020, a 52% increase. This goes into the pockets of businesses. A large proportion of visitors visit the shop, where they buy in bulk and leave with a souvenir.
On average, in the food industry, factory visitors buy 40% more in stores than normal consumers.
RMC