As the holiday season approaches, Czech bakers and consumers alike are facing a bitter truth: Christmas cookies will be more expensive this year. Key ingredients such as cocoa, butter, and nuts have seen significant price hikes, pushing up the cost of these beloved festive treats.
Bohumil Hlavatý, director of the Bakers and Confectioners Association, explains that while sugar and flour prices have slightly decreased, other crucial ingredients have “skyrocketed,” including labor costs. As a result, both homemade and store-bought Christmas cookies are expected to be pricier this season. Despite the increase, demand remains steady, with Hlavatý noting, “Christmas is a special holiday, and people don’t skimp on it”.
Local bakeries are already adjusting their prices. Merhaut Bakery, with 18 stores primarily in Prague and Central Bohemia, has raised the price of their 550-gram assortment from 630 to 660 crowns. This translates to 1200 crowns per kilogram, a 5% increase from last year. Gabriela Merhautová, the owner’s wife, cites the rising cost of butter and increasing wage pressures as key factors in their decision to raise prices.
The impact extends beyond small bakeries. Hotel Zvíkov’s confectionery, which sells Christmas cookies online, now charges 1390 crowns per kilogram for twelve varieties. Manager Richard Garlík reveals that they had to nearly double their prices in recent years due to soaring ingredient and energy costs. To maintain competitiveness, they’re now focusing on reducing electricity costs through technological innovations rather than further price increases.
Experts predict that prices won’t decrease before Christmas and may even rise further. Jiří Tyleček, an analyst at XTB, suggests that making cookies at home might be more economical this year, with some consumers potentially substituting margarine for butter to cut costs. However, Hlavatý assures that people still prefer traditional varieties like vanilla crescents and linzer cookies, making it difficult to substitute basic ingredients.
Despite these challenges, the Christmas spirit remains unbroken. As Czechs adapt to the new economic realities, the tradition of Christmas cookie baking continues, albeit with a slightly higher price tag attached to the sweet memories they create.