The more expensive ones are imports from Italy right? Like @harters said, they are not mass production, artisan or craft. I have tasted the industrial ones and the famous ones from Italy, the better ones use real ingredient, butter, sometimes with alcohol, fruits confit, or even chocolate. They are similar to brioche, which is a type of bread that requires some work, and the price of brioche to ordinary bread in a bakery here, I would say 3 times more expensive.
But one point is interesting, even if they are from famous specialist from Italy, they can be bought and kept for months. Unlike cakes or pastries from shops, they need to be consumed quickly. I find the difference in quality doesn’t justify the extremely expensive ones. They can charge that price because the place is famous.
Don’t forget panettones are for Christmas and new year. Festival food has another price tag.
A few years ago, panettones started to get fashionable in France, the price was quite expensive. Now even the supermarket’s own store brands have their panettones, the price lowers consecutively.
