Turning insights into innovative new products

Our long history and marketing talent in food ingredients gives us a unique perspective on the bakery category and the consumer behaviors/trends that are driving it. We develop valuable insights to help our customers enhance their current products and create innovative new products that drive sales for their brands. What trends are impacting the bakery category?

Spending smarter

With elevated food prices and an uncertain economic outlook, consumers are “trading down” by eating meals at home and concentrating on low-frills shopping. Private-label products remain important, especially in Western Europe. While European consumers still buy most of their bread at the local, artisanal bakery store, opportunities for industrial bakery products are plentiful. You can seize them by refining your product mix to meet the changing needs of today’s bakery consumer. 

Conscientious consumption

This movement is growing beyond merely purchasing increasingly popular natural products, to include such things as buying local. Bakery product manufacturers are responding by using more sustainable production methods (e.g. limiting CO₂ emissions) and minimizing “food miles” — donating a portion of profits to certain causes and using recyclable and/or less packaging to reduce effects on the environment.

Going healthy

Since the ebb of the low-carbohydrate craze, healthy choices have been on the agenda for bakers. These focus on three main areas: Natural and “free from” claims: (organic, natural, no additives), “low” claims with low fat being the most important followed by no added sugar; and thirdly, enriching bakery products with functional ingredients (wholegrain, vitamins, minerals, omega 3, sterols).