The growing demand for convenience, the availability of healthier options, the desire for new flavors and experiences — all of these factors are contributing to increased demand for packaged and processed food, including bakery products.
Here are four of the biggest opportunities for bakery processors right now.
Artisan-style breads
Artisan-style bread continues to be one of the fastest-growing bread categories. This is driven mainly by health considerations. Consumers want clean label products and functional foods. Artisan-style products — particularly those made with fermented doughs and whole grains — fit the bill perfectly.
A 2020 report from Research and Markets notes that market growth is being driven by demand for low-carb, high-fiber, multigrain, and fortified bread, as well as the inclusion of functional ingredients to support cholesterol reduction, weight management, high protein diets, and sugar control.
Learn how modern bakery equipment can produce artisan-style bread that looks and tastes homemade.
Ethnic products
The past several years have seen incredible growth in demand for flavors from around the world. This trend is especially strong among Millennials, nearly 70% of whom considered themselves “adventurous” eaters.
In the bakery segment, ethnic products can take many forms — savory buns, filled products, and meat patties, to name just a few.
Gluten-free products
Gluten-free products have been growing in popularity for a couple of years, and not just among people who have a gluten intolerance. Many consumers are choosing these products for their health benefits.
The key information for bakery processors is that this market is far from saturated. A 2018 DuPont study found plenty of opportunities for bakery companies to provide more, and higher-quality, gluten-free products. In particular, consumers want gluten-free items that are similar to their gluten-containing counterparts in taste, texture, appearance, and nutritional content.
Pizza
Even as other consumer preferences change at the speed of light, there’s one product Americans still can’t get enough of: pizza. According to one source, 93% of Amercians eat at least one pizza every month, and 36% of those pizzas are topped with pepperoni.
But, pepperoni aside, the other considerations on this list also apply to pizza. Artisan-style doughs, interesting new tastes, and specialty diet-friendly options are all among today’s top pizza trends. With 3 billion pizzas sold every year, innovative processors have a good chance to capture a larger share of this $38 billion market.
Would you like to take advantage of these opportunities? Whether you have a turnkey project, need to upgrade equipment, or want advice on a new product application, we can help. Contact our team of experts.