Epiphany. Bakers highlight the lighthouses of the Channel

It is in Pirou (Manche), Aux Gourmandises de Pépettethat the Maison du Boulanger has chosen to announce the traditional presentation of the beans which will be found in the king cakes sold on the occasion of Epiphany 2025 in bakeries participating in this operation.

A different theme every year

To do this, Jean-Denis Meslin, president of the cooperative, and Fabrice Suzanne, president of the group of bakers of Manche and Orne, wanted to accompany the director of the Maison du boulanger, Frédéric Fauchon, in order to encourage local and artisanal businesses.

Denis Quesnel and Delphine Dubourg, who took over Les Gourmandises de Pépette only a few months ago, are delighted to be by the sea, about fifty meters from the beach, of course for the living environment, but also because the theme chosen for the beans this year is that of the Channel lighthouses. We couldn't have found a better place than Pirou for this inauguration.

As a reminder, the Maison du boulanger, via its Copobam cooperative, launched this idea around thirty years ago now, so long ago that no one remembers the exact date. This involves making beans each year on a different theme.

In previous years, the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the Granville carnival, the SNSM, the firefighters and even the Manche start of the 2016 Tour de France were honored.

Up to 60,000 copies sold

Next year's theme, already decided by the staff of the Maison du Boulanger, because the orders will arrive in March, will remain “top secret” until the marketing of the 2026 cakes, so as not to risk be plagiarized by other providers.

Sales of the cakes in which we find these beans are booming, with up to 60,000 copies distributed depending on the year, says Frédéric Fauchon.

It must be said that the distribution takes place mainly in the Manche region, but also in the neighboring departments of Orne and Calvados.

Denis Quesnel specifies that the period has widened considerably. If it was previously limited to the two weekends surrounding January 6, today, demand starts before Christmas and lasts until the end of January.

And if convinced republicans have reservations about the idea of ​​celebrating Kings, it is clear that the one crowned by the lighthouse found in the cake will only be able to reign as an enlightened monarch!

From our correspondent Gilles GUEZENNEC

Thirty-three artisan bakers from Manche and Calvados are participating this year in the “Fèves 2025” operation: for the West Coast Center Manche community of communes, in addition to Gourmandises de Pépette in Pirou, we can cite La Crientine in Créances.

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