Morocco: Bread will cost more

Between a significant increase in production costs and growing pressures, skyrocketing prices of raw materials, particularly flour and energy, unfair competition, the bakery and pastry sector is developing, but haltingly. "The bakery can no longer cover its daily expenses," while several establishments are now operating with minimal margins or recording successive losses, estimates a professional in the sector. Faced with these difficulties, the Moroccan Federation of Bakeries and Pastries does not rule out a possible increase in the price of bread, according to Al Akhbar.

Professionals in the sector are calling for the urgent opening of a national dialogue involving all the players in the sector, in order to find concrete solutions guaranteeing its sustainability. They are particularly calling for the reform of the flour distribution system and the establishment of clear quality and food safety standards. They are awaiting direct support from the State or, failing that, tax relief. They also call for the development of a specific specification for flour intended for bakeries, the affixing of a technical label on the bags, the transition to paper bags to preserve quality and public health, as well as training and professionalization programs.

In the eyes of the Moroccan Federation of Bakeries and Pastries, it is time to implement a comprehensive reform, capable of ensuring both the quality of the products and the economic viability of the bakeries, while keeping bread at an affordable price for consumers.