The managers of the "La Boulaga" bakery in Troarn do not understand why the artisanal bakers' association of Calvados is suing them. They go to court on November 15, 2018.
"We open our bakery seven days a week and we are summoned to appear in court on November 15, at the request of the artisanal group of pastry bakers Calvados," explain, chastised, Isabelle and Xavier Perret, the managers of the bakery La Boulaga , road from Rouen to
Troarn.
They both started in the bakery fourteen years ago. "My parents were bakers in the Eure and I bathed in when I was a child. But I became commercial in the bakery, " says Xavier Perret.
His wife, Isabelle, was a biochemist. In 2004, both decided to take a 180 degree turn. They buy the Rouen road garage in Troarn and turn it into a bakery.
"In 2008, we bought the other bakery that was in the village and was in receivership. And took over the staff, as we had committed ourselves. "
They are three years old and with the two bakeries, whose closing day is not the same, they sell their products seven days a week. "After three years, it was necessary to bring the village bakery up to standard. But his turnover did not allow to finance this kind of work. We broke the lease and repatriated the five employees to La Boulaga. But we still refund the credit we have contracted to buy the business. "
Both do not understand why they are prevented from working every day: "We are asked to close one day a week or not to sell bread one day a week. But if we close a day, it's 15% less turnover in the year, and there will be two or three people to fire while we have done everything to preserve and sustain employment. "
It's been a year and a half that they open every day: "We would have put a bread deposit at another shopkeeper, the group would not have said anything. There, if we close one day we will not progress because our charges increase. They do not understand why in other departments "we can open seven days a week. How do you deal with supermarkets and industrial bakery! "
"Protecting bakers"
"Our first letter reminding Mr Perret of the obligation to close one day a week is from the beginning of 2016," explains Pierre Serais, the president of the artisanal bakers' confederation of Calvados. It highlights the prefectural decree in force since 1996 in Calvados, allowing bakeries and pastry shops to open 7 days a week from July 1 to August 31.
"The purpose of this decree is to protect the artisan baker by ensuring a day of rest a week for his health and quality of life. All can not afford to employ an employee for an opening 7 days a week against those who can. "
Yet in eighteen departments, bakers can open 7 days a week with the argument of surviving the big brands.
"I would like to remind you that the Federation of Bakery Enterprises, which defends the supermarket chains, is very happy when it is open every day of the week. This allows them to take market share from small artisans. "
He points out that it is to combat this "that the obligation for supermarkets to close Sunday was obtained. This ensures equality between professionals. "
The president of the artisanal bakers confectioners Calvados regrets also having to "do the police instead of the prefecture. And especially in front of another baker. But even if one understands the difficulties, it does not give the right to circumvent the law by opening 7 days out of 7. This is prejudicial to bakers in the surrounding communes. "