A tradition that seems immutable could well experience a discreet transformation this year. Between rising production costs and tense raw materials, craftsmen and manufacturers must maintain the balance. And will consumers really feel the difference?
The rise in butter prices impacts manufacturers
The galette des Rois, symbol of the festivities of the month of January, is much more than a simple culinary tradition. Every year, nearly 60 million copies are sold in France, between supermarkets and artisan bakers.. It represents a significant part of the annual turnover of bakeries, sometimes reaching 15% during the seven weeks of celebration.
But in 2024, the price of butter has crossed a historic threshold, going from 5,500 to more than 8,000 euros per tonne, an increase of 40% in one year, according to FranceAgriMer. This ingredient alone represents almost half the weight of a frangipane pancake, a quarter of the almond cream and almost half in the puff pastry. Such an outbreak directly impacts the manufacturing cost. « The manufacturing cost will therefore increase, but bakers will often cut back on their margins », Explains to AFP Paul Boivin, general director of the Federation of Bakery and Pastry Companies (FEB).
Galette des rois 2025: uno price increases controlled to preserve sales
Butter is not the only ingredient to weigh on the scale. Eggs, affected by avian flu, saw their price rise to 14 euros per 100 units in December 2024, compared to 10 euros just a few months earlier. Paul Boivin underlines: “ In two years, the share of raw materials in bakers' turnover has increased from 23% to 28%. » These successive increases further complicate cost management for craftsmen.
Despite these tensions, professionals strive to limit the impact on consumers. If certain craftsmen could increase their prices by a few cents per unit, this increase would remain reasonable, believes Dominique Anract. In supermarkets, the pancakes are always offered at various prices, between 4 and 12 euros, while those from artisans range between 17 and 30 euros. For many, the occasional purchase of a pancake remains a tradition that they are ready to honor, despite a slight price adjustment. Paul Boivin adds: “ each sells on average 500 to 2,000 cakes during this period, 4,000 to 5,000 for the best placed and up to 10,000 for the winner of the Prize for the best cake. »
