# Why are cakes in the grocery store so gawd damned expensive? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 13, 2014, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182 "2014-10-13T06:07:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/61 "2014-10-15T02:17:04Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > šŸ˜• > > That looks like a markup of 50% to me. > > Cost is $20, marked up 50% to give a sale price of $30. Sorry, 33% profit margin. I get them backwards when Iā€™m thinking to quickly. I always work with profit margin, but rarely say it out loud. $10 in profit is 33% of the sale (or, alternatively, restaurants will often go by ā€˜food costā€™ which, in this case, is 66%). Either way, itā€™s the standard grocery percentage. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/62 "2014-10-15T03:38:07Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Iā€™m going to guess 18" wide by 15". Give or take on that. Itā€™s just a guess. > > Some posters here either donā€™t know what Iā€™m talking about or are full of it. Small grocery store [sheet cakes](https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRT9BAiobOHnXbrindYJZPuVPUxdbMsSySQJk_f4by8s5qcF4Jp), at least the ones I saw, are indeed made in bulk in factories by machines and low paid workers and there is no reason they should be $29! Ok. I am going to need you to go back there in the next day or so and take a picture for us. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/63 "2014-10-15T04:30:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Thatā€™s probably a half sheet cake then (12"x18"). No, my estimate was a little big now that I looked at a tape measure. Iā€™m going to reissue my estimate as 15" wide by 12". Single layer slab sheet cake with no filling, chocolate frosting and red goop. Iā€™m 100% certain one could make the same cake for under $5. For Kripes sake, the twin layer birthday cakes with roses and plastic cars on them were only $17! WTF? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/64 "2014-10-15T04:42:18Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > No, my estimate was a little big now that I looked at a tape measure. Iā€™m going to reissue my estimate as 15" wide by 12". > > Single layer slab sheet cake with no filling, chocolate frosting and red goop. Iā€™m 100% certain one could make the same cake for under $5. For Kripes sake, the twin layer birthday cakes with roses and plastic cars on them were only $17! WTF? How sure are you it wasnā€™t a gluten free cake? (Or dairy free or some other special cake.) It does seem odd that the single layer would be more expensive than a double layer; thatā€™s unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/65 "2014-10-15T05:05:54Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > No, my estimate was a little big now that I looked at a tape measure. Iā€™m going to reissue my estimate as 15" wide by 12". > > Single layer slab sheet cake with no filling, chocolate frosting and red goop. Iā€™m 100% certain one could make the same cake for under $5. For Kripes sake, the twin layer birthday cakes with roses and plastic cars on them were only $17! WTF? If it wasnā€™t a higher quality cake, itā€™s entirely possibly it was just a mistake. Either the $17 cake should have been $30 or the $30 cake should have been $17 (or rather $9.99 instead of $29.99)ā€¦or the $17 cake was on sale because it was about to go past itā€™s shelf life. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/66 "2014-10-15T21:51:22Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > This is how it works around here. > > How big of a rectangle? The most common size rectangular cake (1/4 sheet) will ba less than $20 around here (assuming no filling). They are $14.99 at my local supermarket. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/67 "2014-10-15T22:03:36Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > How sure are you it wasnā€™t a gluten free cake? (Or dairy free or some other special cake.) > > It does seem odd that the single layer would be more expensive than a double layer; thatā€™s unusual. Yeah, that I donā€™t understand. I double checked today at my local Jewel, and the cheapest 1/2 sheet (12"x18") was $32, and 1/4 sheet (9"x12") was $22. Thatā€™s with no writing or personalization or anything on it. (ETA: And about 2" thick.) ETA2: The birthday cakes (I believe about 9" diameter, around 4" high) were in the $17 range. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/68 "2014-10-15T22:13:20Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, that I donā€™t understand. I double checked today at my local Jewel, and the cheapest 1/2 sheet (12"x18") was $32, and 1/4 sheet (9"x12") was $22. Thatā€™s with no writing or personalization or anything on it. (ETA: And about 2" thick.) > > ETA2: The birthday cakes (I believe about 9" diameter, around 4" high) were in the $17 range. Actually, sorry, I think itā€™s actually an 8" round cake. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/69 "2014-10-15T23:01:44Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Profit is not a dirty word!šŸ˜› Profit is a _holy_ word. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/70 "2014-10-15T23:42:38Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > We usually have some ordinary fruit cake on the go for afternoon munchies, but a birthday cake would be a Victoria Sponge. Gosh-durnit, folks, would yā€™all look at this? These here are some real live English people who actually _ **like to eat fruitcake** _! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/71 "2014-10-15T23:54:48Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, that I donā€™t understand. I double checked today at my local Jewel, and the cheapest 1/2 sheet (12"x18") was $32, and 1/4 sheet (9"x12") was $22. Thatā€™s with no writing or personalization or anything on it. (ETA: And about 2" thick.) > > ETA2: The birthday cakes (I believe about 9" diameter, around 4" high) were in the $17 range. Good gravy, Iā€™m glad I went to Marianoā€™s for my wedding cake. By which I mean my two off the rack pretty cakes with no preorder or indication that they were for a wedding in any way whatsoever, that I stacked on top of each other when I got them to the wedding site. Total cost: $29. One 10 inch round double layer ($19) and one 6 inch round double layer ($10). And Marianoā€™s cakes taste so much better than Jewelā€™s. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/72 "2014-10-16T00:49:04Z")
I donā€™t really like cake, but after reading this thread I want a slice of slightly stale yellow cake with chocolate frosting, and a cup of coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/73 "2014-10-16T00:49:51Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > No, my estimate was a little big now that I looked at a tape measure. Iā€™m going to reissue my estimate as 15" wide by 12". A half sheet. That will feed about 30 people. Itā€™s a pretty big cake. Price is about right. > [@pkbites](#): > > Single layer slab sheet cake with no filling, chocolate frosting and red goop. Iā€™m 100% certain one could make the same cake for under $5. For Kripes sake, the twin layer birthday cakes with roses and plastic cars on them were only $17! WTF? Were these twin layer cakes 8" round cakes? Those are much smaller cakes. Feeding 10 or so. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/74 "2014-10-16T02:53:25Z")
We paid around $35 for our sonā€™s last birthday cake at a bakery where they pay the kids running the register about $15/hr. And, produce is very cheap (at least at grocery stores). I go grocery shopping about once a week and use the self checkout. I scan all the produce first and regularly watch how I fill up the entire bagging area and several bags (w/various fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs) and sometimes donā€™t break $20. Then I cringe as I add the various pre-made and packaged foods and my total soon passes $200. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/75 "2014-10-16T05:05:36Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > A half sheet. That will feed about 30 people. Itā€™s a pretty big cake. Price is about right. > > Were these twin layer cakes 8" round cakes? Those are much smaller cakes. Feeding 10 or so. This was a small square cake[s] (about 10 in the cooler) I find it telling that any of you would defend the over pricing of fucking cakes , but open threads pissing and moaning about the profit oil companies are making. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/76 "2014-10-16T05:10:43Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I find it telling that any of you would defend the over pricing of fucking cakes , but open threads pissing and moaning about the profit oil companies are making. **Moderator Note** Youā€™re going off on a tangent here. Letā€™s stay on the subject of cakes. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/77 "2014-10-16T05:13:08Z")
For what itā€™s worth, Iā€™m with you. Grocery store cake is too expensive for the quality you get. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/78 "2014-10-16T05:20:56Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > For what itā€™s worth, Iā€™m with you. Grocery store cake is too expensive for the quality you get. Aso FWIW, in the milieu in which I grew up, serving ā€œbought cakeā€ was distinctly frowned upon. The product was regarded as second-rate, not something fit to be served to guests or worth eating yourself. Even something like a wedding cake you would make yourself (and not from ā€œcake mixā€ but from basic ingredients) and then send out to have professionally iced. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/79 "2014-10-16T13:11:57Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > For what itā€™s worth, Iā€™m with you. Grocery store cake is too expensive for the quality you get. Generally. Costco actually makes pretty decent cakes, but I donā€™t know whether you want to call it a ā€œgrocery store.ā€ Jewel I donā€™t bother with. The last time Iā€™ve had it ā€“ and itā€™s been years ago ā€“ it just tastes like generic cake to me. Iā€™m not a sweets person, but for a special occasion, I go to one of the local bakers. I may pay about twice or more what I would at the grocery, but at least itā€™s cake I know Iā€™ll actually enjoy. And if profit is so shocking, look at all the other products in a grocery store that have even higher profit margins. I mean, I could bake a loaf of ā€œartisanalā€ bread for $0.50-$0.75 that they sell for $5, and mine is (to my tastes) better. Or look at the chopped vegetables. Youā€™re paying something like a 4x premium at least for the privilege of having the vegetables chopped for you. How crazy is that!? (In my opinion, not crazy at all. If youā€™re willing to pay for the convenience go for it. Otherwise, you can buy the cabbage and chop it yourself. Same with the cake? Got a problem with the price? Bake it yourself. Youā€™re paying for a combination of convenience and skill. How much for each depends on where youā€™re buying a cake. This is like Econ 101 here.) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182/80 "2014-10-16T13:22:17Z")
Are you under the impression youā€™re explaining something I didnā€™t already know? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cakes-in-the-grocery-store-so-gawd-damned-expensive/701182.md?page=5)