Exceptional measures to help French bakeries cope with energy prices

The French government is taking steps to help thousands of its iconic boulangeries cope with unaffordable energy prices, with nearly 80% reporting that they are at risk of bankruptcy. 

The minister of economy and finance, Bruno Le Marie, announced a package of measures to help SMEs across France, but has also unveiled “exceptional measures” for bakers.

Le Marie said energy suppliers are not doing enough and vowed to name and shame those who do not help French businesses with soaring energy bills. 

“Today, suppliers do not help bakers and SMEs enough. I ask them to do more, better, and immediately,” said Le Maire. “The French state is doing its share to help bakers, energy suppliers must do their share.”

Bakers will be able to terminate their energy contracts free of charge in the event of a “prohibitive” price increase. This “exceptional” measure will be applied “on a case-by-case basis” by energy companies.

This move is primarily aimed at those who suffer the “double penalty” of the rise in the price of energy and raw materials, such as wheat, said the minister, after a meeting with suppliers of electricity and gas.

“At a time when the French baguette has been given world heritage status by Unesco, there would be a real paradox in not giving everything possible to support our bakers who are struggling with the price of electricity and energy in general,” Le Marie said in a press conference. 

He also said the government will write to France’s 33,000 bakers to explain the existing and future help they can expect.