A surge in energy prices is threatening a wave of closures across the Dutch bakery sector, its industry lobbies warned on Tuesday, with some businesses saying costs have risen as much as tenfold.
Dutch inflation hit 12% in August, Statistics Netherlands said on Tuesday, driven largely by a 151% year-on-year leap in gas and electricity prices.
"I am hearing from a lot of entrepreneurs that if this holds up for much longer, they'll have to close up shop," said Marie-Helene Zengerink, general manager of the Dutch Association for Bread and Pastry Bakers, which has 1,600 affiliated bakers.
