UK’s Best Retailer Says France Is ‘Finished … Nothing Works, And Worse, Nobody Cares About It’

MIKE BIRD

OCT. 3, 2014

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

John Lewis, the retailer regularly voted the UK’s best by customers, has a pretty friendly brand. Its mutual business model is regularly praised as one for the entire country to copy.

So after being awarded the status of one of the world’s best retailers in Paris this week, you might have expected managing director Andy Street to have some kind words to say about his French hosts.

Not quite. He says the country is “finished.”

Speaking in London yesterday, the Times reports that John Lewis’ most senior executive said: “I have never been to a country more ill at ease… nothing works, and worse, nobody cares about it”

“If you’ve got investments in French businesses, get them out quickly” 

The Times is describing his comments as tongue in cheek, but the French embassy certainly wasn’t happy with the comments, saying that “obviously many foreign businesses do not seem to share Mr Street’s view.” 

Street even slammed the quality of the plastic award he picked up in Paris as “frankly revolting.”

“If I needed any further evidence of a country in decline, here it is.”