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Back to basics: wood-fired oven shields French baker from soaring energy costs
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
By Stephane Mahe
Challans, FRANCE (Reuters) – Traditional wood-fired bread-making is helping shield one French baker from sky-rocketing energy costs.
Franck Burgaud, who owns the only such bakery in the town of Challans, in western France, had not anticipated the current state of things when he opened 23 years ago.
“We chose this way of cooking bread for its authenticity,” he said. “It’s about going back to the roots and work on the bread as best as possible.”
Thanks to his preference for wood, the baker, who works with his wife and daughter, has been saving big on energy bills.
While many of his colleagues are teetering on the brink of financial collapse, Burgaud says the cost of firewood has only risen by 3 to 5% over the past year.
“This is not even remotely close to the electricity prices and, in case of power outage, a wood-fired oven will always work,” he told Reuters.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Tuesday urged power suppliers to do more to help the country’s small and medium-sized businesses cope with rising power costs.
He also said the state would write to France’s 33,000 bakers to detail the existing and future help they can expect, while announcing bakery power contracts could now be reviewed on a “case by case” basis depending on each baker’s situation.
But even as his energy source has shielded him from significant costs, Franck Burgaud still feels the impact the war in Ukraine has on his business.
“(Prices for) everything have risen up to 100%. Eggs cost almost twice as much, butters are up by 50%, flour has risen a lot as well,” he said.
“On the long term, we’re in the dark. It is truly worrisome.”
(Writing by Manuel Ausloos; Editing by William Maclean)
A wood-fired oven is a type of oven that uses wood as its primary fuel source. It is often used for baking bread and pizza, providing a unique flavor and cooking style.
Energy costs refer to the expenses incurred for the consumption of energy, including electricity, gas, and other fuels. These costs can significantly impact businesses and households.
A power outage is a temporary loss of electrical power in a specific area. It can be caused by various factors, including severe weather, equipment failure, or maintenance work.
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power. It is typically measured annually and can affect economic stability.
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are enterprises with a limited number of employees and revenue. They play a crucial role in the economy by providing jobs and fostering innovation.
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