• Bakery products will not become more expensive until Christmas, says Aurel Popescu, president of the Romanian Milling, Baking and Flour Industry Employers' Association - ROMPAN
Aurel Popescu, president of the Romanian Board of Milling, Bakery and Flour Products Industry - ROMPAN, says that, on the Romanian market, the best-selling cozonac is the one with walnuts, raisins and cocoa. It is followed by the pie with shit and the one that contains all these fillings, but, especially during the holidays, other specialties also sell very well.
Even though the bakery industry went through a difficult period, the price of cakes remained during the Easter Holidays similar to the one in December last year, claims the head of ROMPAN.
The confectioners bet on an increase in sales
Patischers have counted on a significant increase in the sales of cozonacs during the Easter holidays this year, compared to 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic reduced sales by more than 50%.
"Most colleagues in the industry have decided not to change prices now, for Easter, especially after a year with bad sales, considering that consumption must be boosted. You also sell at the cost price level just to increase sales and give people work. And here is a problem. Labor is a very, very important thing, because if you lose it, you can't get it back. So we keep them like a trinket", emphasized Popescu.
There is no risk that prices will increase after Easter
The head of ROMPAN also stated that there is no risk that after Easter the price of bakery products will increase, because sales decrease by almost 10 times. "Probably by Christmas, we'll see what happens," he relayed. Cozonacs are sold at prices between 12 lei/kg and 50 lei/kg.
Among the lowest prices in the European Union for bread
However, the president of ROMPAN claims that the prices of Romanian food industry products are quite low. And those in milling and baking are no exception, being among the lowest in the European Union. "Our bread price is in lei just as it is in euros in Germany, Spain or France. They are the lowest prices in the European Union. And you have to fit into these prices with the salaries. Everyone screams when you increase the price of the product: it increased by 10 money, but if you see them on the ground, you don't take them, you kick them", he says.
2020, the biggest sale of flour
Aurel Popescu also mentioned a phenomenon that happened last year, as an effect of the pandemic, and which influenced this market. In 2020, the largest sale of flour was recorded. People made supplies in case the situation worsened during the state of emergency and cooked pastries and bakery products at home.
