Over 12 million French shoppers visited shopping centers on the Saturday following Black Friday, marking a near-record turnout for the Christmas shopping season, according to Christophe Noël, general delegate of the Federation of Commerce Actors in Territories. He noted that the Black Friday event has established itself in France, prompting consumers to begin their Christmas shopping early. With increasing visits expected as Christmas approaches, last year saw an exceptional peak of 15 million visits in stores just before December 25.