Romanian Pastry Shops to Produce 6.6 Million Sponge Cakes for Winter Holidays Despite Challenges

Romanian pastry shops are set to produce around 6.6 million traditional sponge cakes (cozonac) this holiday season, though output will be 3-5% lower than last year, according to Aurel Popescu, president of the Romanian Milling, Baking, and Flour Products Employers' Federation (ROMPAN), CE Report quotes Agerpres

While prices have only risen in line with inflation, production is slightly reduced. However, exports of cozonac have surged by 30%, with strong demand in the UK, the US, Canada, and other countries with large Romanian communities. The UK has seen the most significant growth, with the cakes widely available beyond Romanian-specific stores. Popular varieties include those with cranberries, oranges, chocolate, pistachios, and traditional fillings like walnuts, raisins, and Turkish delight.

Popescu also highlighted challenges facing the industry, including retail markup caps and a labour shortage, as ongoing concerns.