Jacques Borel (born 9 April 1927) is a French businessman known for introducing fast food to France.
His portfolio expanded to 15 restaurants in Paris and five in the rest of the country, but they disappeared before the end of the decade due to disputes with head office in the UK; McDonald's then came to France in 1972.
[4][5][6] Borel was a pioneer of motorway restaurants, and his record for sales in one day was to 14,238 people at an outlet on the A6 in the summer.
[4] His investment company Jacques Borel International bought the 4-star hotel chain Sofitel, but its failure due to his lack of experience in the sector led to him being ousted by the board in 1977.
[7] After failed experiments in fast food in the United States, Mexico and Brazil, he returned to France and opened Jacques Borel Consultants in 1994, who successfully lobbied for a reduced value-added tax of 5.5% in French restaurants.