The message has been heard. Following repeated calls from the artisan bakery sector regarding rising energy prices, the government promises targeted solutions.
In France Info on Friday, the delegate minister for Small and Medium Enterprises, Olivia Grégoire, indicated that she will receive the representative organizations of bakers “next week to find solutions together”.
Until now, Bercy claimed that the majority of artisans and SMEs in the sector are protected by the tariff shield. “For the smallest companies, those that invoice less than 2 million euros and have less than 10 employees, they are protected by regulated sales rates, with an increase that will be limited to 15%” next year, assures the Ministry of the Environment. Environment Economy.
However, the industry believes that the framework of this shield effectively excludes much of the business from this protection.
Power wattage requirement
“The criterion of the size of the company is not related to that of regulated electricity rates. The true criterion is that of the power of the meter. However, most bakeries, even small neighborhood bakeries, between the oven, the mixer, the cold rooms and the refrigerated banks, need an energy power that places them outside the scope of protection provided by the Ministry of Economy ” , explains Marc Sánchez, general secretary of the SDI (Union of Independents).
An observation confirmed to BFM Business by Dominique Anract, president of the National Confederation of French Bakery and Pastry.
In fact, most craftsmen need a power on the meter greater than 36 kilovolt-amperes (KVA), which does not fall within the range of the shield. According to the head of the Confederation, on average, the power in the counter required for medium-sized bakeries (from 6 to 8 employees) is around 72 KVA plus, that is, double the ceiling imposed by the shield.
Questioned by us, EDF indicates that the rate of 80% of small and medium-sized bakeries not covered by the shield proposed by Dominique Anract is not false.
Price increase
“Our bakery partners who are already experiencing increases in raw materials (flour, dairy, eggs), as well as increases in the price of paper (bags, cartons) are on the verge of an explosion,” warns the SDI.
Prices will have to be increased very substantially. “If an artisan sees his invoice multiplied by 4 or 5, he will have to increase all these prices by 30% to keep his head above water, otherwise he will close”, worries Dominique Anract. “what to do climb the baguette up to 1.50 euroswhat worries artisans who think that at this price, consumers will go to supermarkets where baguettes are sold at a loss”, he continues.
It will be remembered that according to Eurostat figures, France is the country of the European Union where the price of bread has least risen more than a year (+8.2%), far behind Germany (+17.5%) or neighboring Spain (+15.2%).
Source: BFM TV
