Romanian Pastry Industry to Produce 6.6 Million Traditional Sponge Cakes for Winter Holidays

Romanian pastry shops are set to produce approximately 6.6 million traditional sponge cakes (cozonac) during the Winter Holidays, marking a 3-5% decrease compared to last year, according to Aurel Popescu, president of the Romanian Milling, Baking, and Flour Products Employers' Federation (ROMPAN), CE Report quotes Agerpres

Popescu noted that while prices have risen in line with inflation, sponge cake exports have surged by 30%, driven by demand in the UK, the United States, Canada, and countries with large Romanian communities. The UK has seen the highest growth, with cozonac now widely available beyond Romanian specialty stores. Popular varieties include fillings of cranberries, oranges, chocolate, pistachios, walnuts, raisins, and Turkish delight.

Despite the export success, the industry faces challenges such as capped retail markups and a shortage of labor, Popescu added in an interview with AGERPRES.