“Working 70 hours a week in survival mode is no longer possible…” A bakery in the Marne, strangled by accusations, brings down the curtain

Relief is the first thought that comes to Yulia Kiryaeva when we talk about the closure of the bakery, which she and her partner managed for almost 4 years. “Working 70 hours a week in survival mode was no longer possible. We had to make the decision to close.” And early Tuesday morning, loyal customers came one after another to grab the last baguette and last croissant before the little family moved to Reims.

Trading will finally come down on Tuesday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. “We are in a hurry to change our lives,” Julie says. We want to take this step to have income stability. But it’s difficult to share people’s pain; some have tears in their eyes, others have disgust or anger.”

The last regular arrives with a bouquet of flowers in his hands to thank the managers for their investment. It’s time to pour out in a small shop in the heart of the village of Jonchery-sur-Vel. “We weren’t there just to sell bread. We created a real connection with the residents and were part of their lives,” she emphasizes. Therefore, the couple did not make the decision to separate with joy. But soaring energy prices and even higher raw material costs have made this equation impossible.

Costs that cannot be transferred

“For a year we took minimum wage to live with our twins. Even at Christmas it was calmer; we noticed a drop in our turnover and felt a drop in the purchasing power of our customers. “. And it is impossible to ignore all the increases associated with the increase in raw materials: butter, eggs, flour… A couple of managers still fought to the end. But the prize fund, launched in April 2023 and collecting more than 2,000 euros, and the cancellation of part of the bill by the energy supplier, will not be enough to reverse the trend.

The Reims commercial court is due to announce the liquidation on Tuesday. As for the future of the Jonchery-sur-Vel bakery, it is uncertain. The retired village baker owns the walls and plans to sell them.