The contradiction is blatant. Meanwhile, Clarín stirred up headlines about a "massive closure" in the bakery sector, official figures and franchise records show exactly the opposite: a true explosion of openings. According to the Buenos Aires Restaurant Chamber, although traditional restaurants suffered a 20% to 30% drop in sales—with a greater impact in tourist areas—the shift in consumption drove an unexpected phenomenon: the multiplication of pizza shops, empanada shops, and bakeries.
The numbers leave no room for doubt. So far in 2025, about 100 franchises in this sector have been sold, double the number in 2024, which means growth four times higher than the rest of the food service industry. Brands such as Central de Pizzas, Olivia, and Big Pizza are leading the expansion, consolidating their presence in neighborhoods like Puerto Madero, Belgrano, Núñez, and Nordelta, as well as in popular areas where affordable pizzerias and bakeries have become a daily staple.
The catastrophic narrative once again clashes with reality. According to Clarín, in the last 18 months, 14,000 bakeries have closed, a figure supported by Martín Pinto, a representative of the Center of Bakery Industry of the Province of Buenos Aires, who described a sector operating at 50% of its capacity, with consumption dropping by 50% and with pastries that are no longer even sold at a 50% discount the next day.
