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The Baguette Faces an Uncertain Future. How France Is Rethinking Its Iconic Loaves
French bakeries shift focus to sourdough and whole grain breads as 36% of consumers report reduced bread consumption over five years, driven by changing habits and waste concerns.
This year, Marion Juhel, pastry chef and owner of Seize Heures Trente in Rennes, stopped selling baguettes, citing energy and waste issues, and now sells large sourdough and whole-grain loaves by weight.
In recent years, the rise of fineoboulangeries and a 2023 CNBPF survey found one in three respondents reduced their bread consumption over five years, says Dominique Anract.
Industry data indicate a simple baguette costs around a euro, an upper-tier artisan baguette about 1.30, and a 500-gram specialty loaf can sell for up to 7.
Despite UNESCO inscription of baguette know-how in 2022 and Macron calling it '250 grams of magic and perfection in our daily lives', consumption continues to decline.
Industry experts say that while French people may be eating less bread, they are 'eating better' thanks to gut-friendly sourdoughs and zero-waste practices, as this year’s trends shift consumption habits.
France is facing the possibility of the iconic French baguette disappearing from household tables, as its consumption has decreased dramatically over the years. More...