Did your Christmas log cost you more this year? Here is the reason

More foie gras or salmon? A few oysters or shrimp after toasting with the bubbles? The menu of Christmas meal is the source of many questions and can even be the subject of debate when deciding. The traditional turkey with chestnuts is still a hit, while poultry, stuffed or not, arouses a certain enthusiasm when others prefer seafood platters to a succulent cheese platter… But what about Is there dessert? The traditional log is undoubtedly one of the keystones of the success of the Christmas meal which is perceived as a moment of sharing with family or friendsa moment when all subjects (or almost) can be discussed as long as you go about it well so as not to arouse any.

According to site data statista.com collected last year, the Yule log is undoubtedly the essential dish of the Christmas mealfor 60% of them, just ahead of foie gras (58%). Wines, champagne and/or crémant follow, equally with cheese. However, this dessert, very popular with the French, is becoming more and more expensive.

The cost of raw materials on the rise

For bakers and pastry chefs, the last two weeks of the year represent a good, if not catastrophic, time if they don't fill up on orders. All products combined, we can even say that the month of December “represents approximately 25% of turnover” of a so-called pastry “classic”and even “up to 40%” for a pastry shop that presents chocolate on its shelves, according to Laurent Le Daniel, who is president of the National Confederation of Pastry Artisans (CNAP). And yet, these are forced to increase their pricesto the detriment of the consumer, due to the increase in manufacturing costs inherent to the inflation of raw materials. “We have to increase our prices this year, we have no choice”ensures this with BFM TVbefore recalling that “many artisans did not want to do it last year and had reduced their margins to achieve it”.

The president of the National Bakery and Pastry Confederation (CNBPF) Dominique Anract notes that energy, eggs, sugar, butter and chocolate cost artisans more. “For two years, it’s been a bit of a party in the village”he said to our colleagues. The 24-hour news channel ensures that “the Atla spot quotation for butter exceeded 8,000 euros in September”while it had a value of 5,000 euros in January. “The fault, among other things, is bluetongue (BCF) in Europe, a viral disease which is spreading in cattle farms in Europe, raising fears of a fall in milk collection”dit-on.

The Christmas meal budget on the rise in 2024

Also, we emphasize that the cacao has also increased since the summer of 2023, “not sparing the price of chocolate” who is “one of the key ingredients of the famous logs”. Unless you opt for an iced log? Different brands offer excellent ones at reasonable prices!

Note that if the average budget of the French for the Christmas holidays has once again decreased, taking into account inflation and geopolitical uncertainties; on the other hand, we note that the budget allocated by households for the holiday meal increased by 12 euros. Or approximately 132 eurosaccording to a survey carried out by the CSA institute for Cofidis published in November. A cause and effect link? “Moreover, for more than one in three French people, the consumption of local products is inseparable from the end of year celebrations”we also emphasize.

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