Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
More than 2,500 French shops damaged during recent protests
More than 2,500 shops were damaged during recent protests in France, according to the country’s network of chambers of commerce, CCI France.
The network says 1,161 shops were looted, wrecked or set on fire, with most of the damage recorded on 17 October.
Shops in city centres also saw sales fall by about 80% on protest Saturdays, as customers stayed away and some businesses closed.
The timing matters because November and December bring 40% of yearly sales for local shops.
CCI France president Alain Di Crescenzo is urging a halt to demonstrations through the year-end holidays to give businesses a chance to recover.
New protest calls have been made for coming weekends, and unions are planning a national day of strikes and demonstrations on 5 November.
CCI France said more than 2,500 shops were damaged during recent protests, including 1,161 that were looted, ransacked or set on fire.
The group said city-centre shops lost 80% of their sales on protest Saturdays.
CCI France president Alain Di Crescenzo called for a pause or ban on demonstrations through the year-end holiday period.
The Marseille area reported 527 affected shops, while 307 were damaged around Lyon, Saint-Etienne and Roanne.
- Who
- French shops and their owners were affected. CCI France reported the damage.
- What
- More than 2,500 shops were damaged during protests; 1,161 were looted, ransacked or set on fire.
- When
- During protests on 17 and 24 October 2026.
- Where
- Across France, including Marseille and the Lyon, Saint-Etienne and Roanne area.
- Why
- The damage occurred during demonstrations. CCI France said city-centre shops also lost customers who avoided protest areas.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
CCI France said 2,488 shops were affected; its later count cited in BFM Business said 2,201 were damaged.
CCI France said 50 shops were affected.
Alain Di Crescenzo called for a pause in demonstrations during the crucial end-of-year period.
CCI France announced that more than 2,500 shops had been damaged during recent demonstrations.
- Total affected
- More than 2,500 shops
- Heavily damaged
- 1,161 shops looted, ransacked or set on fire
- 17 October count
- 2,488 shops affected, according to Le Monde
- 24 October count
- 50 shops affected
- Marseille area
- 527 shops affected; 331 damaged and 128 completely looted
- Lyon, Saint-Etienne and Roanne area
- 307 shops damaged
3 sources
Après les pillages de commerces, plus de 1 700 annonces suspectes ont été supprimées des plateformes de revente en ligne, selon le gouvernement
Plus de 2 500 commerces dégradés en marge des récentes mobilisations, selon CCI France, qui demande une interdiction des manifestations jusqu’aux fêtes de fin d’année
"On est en train de tuer le commerce de proximité": le président de CCI France réclame "une pause" des manifestations car les commerçants perdent "2% du chiffre d'affaires annuel chaque week-end"
What people are saying
We absolutely need to revive commerce.
We have shopkeepers who are tired, disheartened, and we are in the process of killing local commerce.
Every weekend, roughly 2% of annual turnover is lost.