You have to put your hand in your wallet to get the kings this year. The price of frangipane pancakes, consumed at the beginning of January on the occasion of Epiphany, increased on average at the beginning of 2023 by 10% compared to last year. If the bakers evoke the increase in the prices of raw materials and energy, is this increase justified, however?
23.80 euros on average in Paris
Sold at 20 euros, 30 euros, even sometimes up to 50 euros in high-end pastries, our eyes sometimes open wide at the price of certain galettes des rois in this month of January.
On average, these frangipani for 6 people are on sale for 15 euros in provincial bakeries and 23.80 euros in Parisian bakeries, according to a France Info survey. A year earlier, prices stood at 13.80 euros and 21.80 euros respectively.
Star product at the beginning of the year, galettes allow bakers to obtain high margins. “In general, a baker makes a profit of 70% with a galette: this year we will be more than 40-50%”, however, indicates a Loir-et-Cher artisan in the parisian.
Expensive technical knowledge and rising electricity prices
Prices justified, “compared to the work it represents, the time we spend (to do it),” Benjamin Turquier, owner of the “All around bread” bakery in Paris, told BFMTV.
In particular, according to him, “the puff pastry” of the dough that requires two days of work, but also the increase in electricity prices in recent months, while the cake requires at least 45 minutes of cooking. The elaboration of a product of this type requires the know-how of “at least ten people”, he adds.
However, the price increases for empanadas are higher than average inflation. This trend is explained by the very significant increase in the prices of raw materials.
“Butter has increased by 70%, flour by 30%, eggs between 50 and 100%, sugar by more than 50%”, lists with France Info Dominique Anract, president of the National Confederation of Bakery-Pastry. French (CNBPF), for whom raising the price of cakes is “a matter of survival” for traders.
Too many industrial empanadas
Faced with this rise in prices, some professionals are finding solutions, for example substituting butter for margarine, which is cheaper, or giving up part of their workforce.
Some bakers still cannot afford to make the galettes themselves. As a result, they sell an industrial version, sometimes made several months before going on sale, and bought much cheaper.
“It is around 8.20 euros per kilo, or 8.70 euros, even 7.58 euros,” says Benjamin Turquier, consulting the catalogs received by suppliers.
drop in bakery sales
It’s hard to know exactly how many of these frozen pancakes are currently sold in bakeries. “Based on what is done with croissants, we could imagine that between two thirds and three quarters of bakery outlets (offer them),” advances the artisan.
Problem, these pancakes sell for prices similar to artisanal pancakes and the difference to an artisanal pancake is not always apparent to the naked eye to the consumer. Especially since bakers are not required to specify the origin of the product.
As a result, more and more French people are turning to supermarkets to find cakes at more affordable prices. At the beginning of January, Dominique Anract noted with France Bleu a drop in sales of “40% to 60%” on average in bakeries since the health crisis.
Source: BFM TV
