The surge in the price of butter increases the cost of galettes des rois

According to the public establishment FranceAgriMer, the price of pasteurized butter sold in Rungis has increased by around 40% over one year. But this increase should not penalize consumers too much, according to professionals in the sector.

The sharp rise in the price of butter will increase the cost of production of the approximately 60 million galettes des rois sold at the start of the year, on the occasion of Epiphany, which will take place on Monday January 6. “Butter, which represents half the weight of a frangipane pancake, increased this year from 5,500 to more than 8,000 euros per ton. Added to this are increases in wages and energy. The cost manufacturing will therefore increase, but bakers will often cut back on their margins”, estimated Paul Boivin, general director of the FEB (Federation of bakery and pastry companies).

According to the public establishment FranceAgriMer, the price of pasteurized butter sold in Rungis has increased by around 40% over one year. “The pancakes, sold over seven to eight weeks, represent around 15% of the annual turnover of bakeries and the bakery sections of supermarkets: it is therefore a real shortfall”added the general director of the federation, which brings together large manufacturers and bakery chains.

“A cake is sold on average for 4 to 12 euros in supermarkets and 17 to 30 euros at an artisan baker. But as the purchase remains one-off, the consumer does not necessarily realize the increases, if they take place,” he admits. “Butter represents a quarter of almond cream and almost half in the puff pastry. In two years, the share of raw materials has increased from 23% of bakers' turnover to 26-28%,” he notes.

In addition to butter, other key ingredients in pancakes have also seen their prices rise, adds Dominique Anract, president of the National Confederation of French Bakeries and Pastries, such as eggs, affected by avian flu. Their price rose to 14 euros per 100 eggs in December, compared to 10 euros this summer, according to FranceAgriMer.