“Why do bakeries bake chametz till the last minute. “
1. Because most people have stopped baking at home days (or even weeks) before Pesach and there is a demand for the product.
2. Why should their parnasah be cut? It’s tough enough that they will be shut for a minimum of 8 days with no sales, but fixed expenses such as rent, insurance continue.
3. As Queen Marie Antoinette said: “Let them eat cake.” Some customers want more than bread.
4. Why should employees have their hours cut and lose wages because you have decided no cakes and pastries should be baked?
5. Mrs. CTL’s family owned a kosher bakery, I worked as the purchasing agent for another kosher bakery more than 40 years ago. Neither establishment cut production before Pesach. There were retail and wholesale trade to be serviced. Nothing was ever put out on the street Erev Pesach…it was all given to local goyische institutions for distribution to the poor in our towns.