The 27-Cent Baguette That’s Dividing France

A supermarket in Vannes, Brittany, has triggered a new uproar in France’s never-ending love affair with the baguette.

On November 11, a Leclerc store started selling its baguette for just €0.27. That’s cheaper than anything most French people have ever seen – and it’s reigniting a national debate about quality, fairness, and tradition.

For months, supermarkets have been fighting to win shoppers by cutting prices. Lidl went down to €0.29 this summer, sparking a backlash from bakers across France.

Now Leclerc has gone even lower. The move was quickly noticed by French retail analyst Olivier Dauvers, who called it “another round in the bread war” between Leclerc, Lidl, and Aldi.

For small independent bakers, it’s not just competition, it’s an insult. Dominique Anract, president of the National Bakery and Pastry Confederation, says this isn’t real bread.

He explains that artisanal bakers use local flour, slow fermentation, and bake everything on site, while supermarket baguettes are factory-produced and often re-baked from frozen dough.

The difference, he says, is not only taste but respect for the craft.

A typical baguette in a French bakery costs about €1, or €1.20 for a “baguette tradition.” At 27 cents, supermarkets are selling at a price that many say can’t possibly cover the cost of good wheat, fair wages, and local production.

Farmers and millers also feel the pressure, as the race to the bottom on prices squeezes every part of the supply chain.

But not everyone sees it that way. Supporters of low-cost bread argue that in times of inflation, supermarkets are simply helping families manage tight budgets.

Bread is a staple, and for many, every cent matters. The debate has become a mirror of modern France, torn between preserving craftsmanship and adapting to economic reality.

The baguette was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2022, recognized as a symbol of French identity and daily life.

That’s what makes this fight so emotional. The baguette is not just food, it’s ritual, memory, and pride.

So when a supermarket sells one for 27 cents, it’s not just a discount. It’s a challenge to everything the French think their bread stands for.