Sweet catering is the firmest of the three catering families. As of 4 November 2026, its indexed materials rose 1.6% on average over three months and 4.0% over a year, with seven gaining and three easing. The annual figure sits well above the 2.0% average for catering as a whole. The family covers 11 materials, from biscuits and doughs to icing, apple compote and ice cream.
Waffle led the quarter at +3.8%, with +2.2% over a year, making it the second-strongest riser in all of catering. Cookie and speculoos prices each climbed 3.3% and are 3.5% higher than a year ago. Mix for pastry and cookie dough rose 2.6% over three months but only 0.5% over twelve.
Decorating bases moved in step: sugar paste (white) and pastry fondant each added 2.2% over the quarter and are nearly flat on the year at +0.3%, the smallest annual change among the family's risers.
The three fallers tell a different story. Grocery-grade apple compote and pastry apple compote both slipped 1.8% over three months, yet each stands 14.4% above its level of a year ago, by far the largest annual rise in the family. The two compotes carry most of the family's 4.0% annual average. Ice cream eased 0.6% over the quarter and 0.1% over the year.
The ice cream note gathers industry news up to 2 November and does not report any price. On 19 August, the European Commission reported that EU ice cream production grew in 2025. On 29 October, Amsterdam-based Magnum Ice Cream Company reported strong third-quarter volume growth in Europe, and on 21 October ice cream exports from the Moscow region were reported higher.