This pastry may soon be out of reach

Mathieu Dubus | 8/21/24, 8:07 AM

Rising raw material prices affect everyone. Puff pastry, crunchy, warm and comforting morning treats are also affected.

Viennese pastries, affected by soaring prices, are one of the most widely consumed products in France every year. The FEB (Fédération des Entreprises de Boulangerie) announced in 2019 that it represents 80% of the sector, with sales of 8.5 billion euros. As with butter in 2017, which had an impact on croissant prices, it's cocoa's turn to go through a complicated period, directly impacting production of the most famous chocolate viennoiserie.

From consumer product to luxury?

As you've probably gathered by now, this crisis is really all about pain au chocolat. For the many fans of this pastry of Austrian origin, it may soon be time to go without. But why?

According to a chart by Boursorama.com, cocoa prices soared in the first half of 2024. The commodity saw its price rise from $4,000 a tonne on January 8, 2024, to a high of $12,000 a tonne on April 19, 2024. Currently, the price is hovering around $9,000 a tonne, increasing raw material costs and multiplying the bill by 2 or 3. Speaking to TF1, a distraught bakery manager spoke of a forced change of direction: "We can't sell at a loss; if the price continues to rise, it will become a luxury product." There may even be talk of switching to frozen pain au chocolat production for some artisans, a heartbreaker for most.

Cocoa prices are on a slight downward trend, so let's hope this continues, so we can continue to enjoy this comforting chocolate puff pastry.

These news might interest you

News & Events

Follow the chenin

The king of the Loire grape varieties, also widespread in South Africa, "ch'nin", as the people of the Loire pronounce it, has the extraordinary ability to produce dry white wines as well as semi-dry, sweet, syrupy and even sparkling wines, commonly known as fines bulles. Complex and demanding, it is nonetheless endearing.

Read

News & Events

What temperature should I serve my wine at?

If you break out the ice bucket at the slightest bottle of white and the reds never leave your kitchen, here's a simple guide to avoiding these wine temperature faux-pas.

Read

News & Events

10 great restaurants where you can (also) don your kitchen apron

People no longer come to restaurants just for lunch or dinner. At a time when cooking secrets are no longer the preserve of top chefs, people come as early as 9am to put on their apron... before unfolding the napkin on their knees.

Read

Craftsmen & Know-How

Pâtiss'Art announces its first edition with Nina Métayer as godmother

Normandy goes pastry. From October 26 to 28, 2024, the first Pâtiss'Art show will be held in Deauville. For the occasion, the godmother will be none other than Nina Métayer.

Read