On December 24, 2024, during the holiday season, a fire ravaged the bread oven at the “C Romain” bakery in Gramat. After three months of struggle and rumors of bankruptcy, Romain and Anaës held their ground. A year later, they are participating in the TV show “The Best Bakery in France” on M6.
The popular M6 show “The Best Bakery in France” returns to Lot. On Thursday, March 26, the “C Romain” shop in Gramat will participate for the second time in the competition. This edition feels like a comeback for these resilient artisans.
In Gramat, on Christmas Eve 2024, the bakery of Anaës Ritter and Romain Comte turned into a nightmare as a fire broke out in the shop’s oven. For this artisan couple, it marked the beginning of a period of uncertainty: “It was unknown, we didn’t know where we were going,” they say today. Behind the counter, another battle was being fought: the survival of a team of passionate individuals.
During the three-month closure, the team was placed on temporary unemployment. But they were determined not to sit idle. To change their fate, they all traveled to Lyon to bring back the new oven together. Ultimately, the ten employees were able to be retained. The incident also fueled village discussions: “We heard a lot of rumors,” the couple recalls. Some said we would go bankrupt and wouldn’t be able to recover.
The reopening in March 2025 feels like a revenge and a new challenge for the artisans. The success is there. Supported emotionally during the closure by relatives and loyal customers, the shop almost immediately regained its usual clientele. “We didn’t see any difference, it’s back to normal,” explains Anaës, who manages the store.
The bakery in Gramat had already been a contestant on the M6 show two years ago. The first participation ended in elimination in the initial duel but proved to be a learning experience. Today, the couple, once again approached by the M6 production, have multiple motivations. Besides the challenge, it’s also a way to show customers the behind-the-scenes. This televised journey serves as an official message that “We are indeed back.”
Romain Comte, the baker, and Pauline Real, the pastry chef, will be the faces of this latest edition filmed last December. Having become accustomed to the format, they relied on their past experience. “This year, we were more relaxed. We prepared well in advance,” they say.
This time, they decided to step up their game, aiming to enrich their shop’s offerings. “For this edition, we wanted to create something new. That’s why it’s a challenge. We have designed products for the show with the intention of offering them in the display afterward.”
The show will be broadcast on Thursday, March 26 at 6:35 pm on M6.
