Industrial Flavors and Frozen Products
The famous Baillardran house, known for its high-end canelés, was sentenced on Thursday, January 16, to a fine of 100,000 euros by the Bordeaux correctional court for misleading business practices. The investigation, conducted in 2023, revealed that the crown jewel of Bordeaux canelé presented its products as “fresh” when they were sometimes frozen and thawed, and used industrial flavors and white rum instead of the prestigious ingredients advertised on their labels, such as Madagascar vanilla, butter, or amber rum, which were actually missing.
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New Controversy for Baillardran Bordeaux
This isn't the first time the Bordeaux-based brand with 150 employees finds itself in the spotlight for a tasteless affair. A report conducted by France 3 and published in January 2024 highlighted “unacceptable working conditions, questionable hygiene, pests on the premises, and moral harassment of employees.”
These issues have tarnished the image of a company that has established itself as a luxury institution since its founding in 1988, especially in tourist spots and major cities. Despite the company's defense, which mentioned unintentional errors and marginal practices, the court determined that the violations were serious enough to warrant this ruling.
A tough decision to swallow for the people of Bordeaux
The Baillardran company, which brings in a annual revenue of 12.4 million euros, hasn’t escaped the criticism from the locals in Bordeaux. “True Bordelais know that Baillardran is for tourists,” declared a resident, aghast at these revelations and praising more authentic and trustworthy products from competitors. As the company seems to be considering an appeal, consumers and authorities are left wondering if these practices will be amended.
