Over the weekend, the faint remnants of the words “Action anti tech” were barely visible on a brick wall outside a bakery in Montreal after the store’s front windows were vandalized. This incident marked the second attack on the Mamie Clafoutis bakery on Saint-Denis St. in less than three months.
Nicolas Delourmel, co-founder and owner of the bakery chain, received a call from the police in the middle of the night informing him about the shattered windows. He quickly rushed to the scene, only to find yet another act of vandalism targeting the self-service bakery model that Mamie Clafoutis had adopted two years ago.
In a previous incident in May, masked individuals entered the store, took bread, and left anti-capitalist graffiti behind. An anonymous group later claimed responsibility, citing their objection to the alleged use of facial recognition technology in the bakery’s self-serve locations—a claim the owners have vehemently denied.
The recent vandalism saw the store’s windows being shattered by an unknown object, captured on security camera footage, leaving Delourmel to express his dismay at the senseless act. This incident is part of a series of similar attacks on food businesses in Montreal, including organized thefts by activist groups protesting against rising food prices and large grocery chain profits.
Despite facing challenges, Delourmel remains determined to navigate the hurdles faced by small businesses, such as the increased insurance costs due to repeated vandalism. With ongoing police investigations, the bakery owner hopes for a resolution to these acts of vandalism that threaten the livelihood of his establishment.
