Johan van den Broek stops. After no less than 110 years, the doors of Bakkerij van den Broek in Geldrop are closing. Not because Johan (71) wants to retire. Staying open is simply not profitable anymore because of the high gas prices.
“I am the third generation. My son was supposed to take over this year. But then Putin started to struggle and energy prices went up. We would look at the takeover again in January, but that is not feasible. Last year I paid 1300 euros per month in gas, later 2800 euros and now that is 15,000 euros.
Making the bread more expensive is not an option. “Then I have to sell loaves of 6 euros. People just want cheap bread, they keep their hands on the cut.”
“Customers hate it”.
The doors of the bakery close on November 1. Eleven employees have to look for other work and Johan’s son can also apply. “Customers think it’s terrible. I can cry myself. This business belonged to my grandparents. It should have been around for years.”
“I hope the same thing happens to this cabinet one day.”
The cabinet in The Hague will provide some of the SMEs with financial support, provided that their energy costs correspond to at least 12.5 percent of the turnover. Most bakers fall under this. But Van den Broek has nothing good to say about the support measure. “It can only be requested from April. By then I will be bankrupt long ago with these energy prices. I want to prevent that now by stopping myself. A pity because November and December are very good months. But if I open I will make a loss. I hope that the same thing will ever happen to this cabinet.”
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