This bakery in Eure had a “quite exceptionally tough” year in 2024

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Christophe Vallin, manager of the Aux Saveurs des Bois bakery, in Bois-Jérôme-Saint-Ouen (Eure), is smiling again. Since Monday December 16, 2024, a new pastry chef has arrived. “He is 21 years old, he is dynamic. He comes from Vernon, has a bakery CAP and a pastry chef CAP. He touches the dough. Not everyone can do it or want to. »

In search since septemberthe bakery saw five pastry chefs foreigners from the Maghreb and Africa. “All of them lacked a diploma and lived more than 30 km away,” regrets Christophe Vallin.

“I was fed up”

The baker deplores the same problems that in the restoration : tough job with restrictive working hours (early morning) and salaries. “The candidates are demanding. » Following the departure of the five pastry chefs, he stopped looking.

I was fed up. I gave up. I worked between 14 and 16 hours a day to compensate for the lack of a pastry chef. I lost weight.

He therefore decided to close the bakery on Sundays.

The year ended on a positive note. “The new pastry chef has arrived just before the end of year holidays. I didn't expect it. Without him, I would not have been able to make the bread, the logs, etc. I would have disappointed people. »

A year lasts

2024 was a “pretty exceptionally tough” year for baking. THE turnover is in drop compared to last year.

Expenses have increased. But our turnover is enough to employ four people. Two saleswomen arrived to complete the workforce.

The manager emphasizes that “people are careful with their money. I think they favor the vacation budget rather than the food budget.”

Since the arrival of the new pastry chef, the bakery has reopened on Sunday.

For the start of the year, the bakery unveils its new cake : a frangipane praline galette des Rois with a little hazelnut.

2 Rue de l’Abbé Seyer. Such. 02 32 51 52 20.

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