News and Trends

  Pistachio is everywhere right now. From croissants to doughnuts, biscuits, and even tiramisu, there is no escaping the green hue, indulgent flavour, and nutty finish in bakery. The nut has gone from “niche patisserie ingredient to mainstream flavour hero”, according to Anthony Saison, head of category insights & customer marketing at Mademoiselle Desserts. Riding the high of the Dubai chocolate trend – which sees it paired with chocolate and crispy knafeh (a fine shredded pastry) – pistachio has soared to become a beacon for on-trend indulgence. Five pistachio bakery launches But its allure goes far beyond the hype of being a signature part of a viral flavour combination. “Pistachio sits at the intersection of indulgence, health cues, and global flavour exploration,” explains Tom Smalley, commodities buyer at wholesaler (and  reigning Supplier of the Year ) Bako. While its use has undoubtedly generated sales in droves for bakery businesses, and the wider food & drink...

  IGD Analysis, 20 November 2025 An overview of the impact that the four key trends shaping the UK market in 2026 will have on the away from home market. The Away From Home (AFH) market in 2026 will be shaped by ongoing economic pressures, evolving consumer expectations and regulatory shift. Our  series of trends reports identify the four key trends shaping the UK food system  next year and beyond, and explore the impact these four trends will have on grocery retail, shoppers, food to go and the away from home market. These  trends will impact all stakeholders in the AFH market, so it is essential for operators, suppliers and wholesalers to understand these changes and prepare for the impact on their businesses. Affordable and accessible Consumers will keep looking for value, challenging operators to maintain quality while offering good deals. Operators must compete not just with each other, but also with retailers providing strong alternatives to dining out. In 2026...

Waitrose   bakery  sales have increased by 15% in the past year, driven by a surge in interest from younger customers. The retailer said it had attracted new customers to the category, including younger shoppers “looking for trend-led innovation in flavour and premium ingredients”. It added they were tapping into a ‘little treat’ culture, as well as seeking inspiration via  social media . This had driven positive responses to  NPD  within the Waitrose bakery category, such as limited-edition lines like jalapeño breadsticks and  cereal  milk cookies. Waitrose said bagged cookie sales were up 35% year on year and its Viennoisserie (sweet  pastries ) were up 21%. New products currently being rolled out include a gingerbread bun, a Black Forest Danish and a pistachio croissant. With its sourdough sales up 26% year on year, Waitrose has also launched a new 1kg loaf, double the size of its standard offering. “For our younger customers, it’s less about t...

MORRISONS : New Chocolate Orange Pain au Duo SAINSBURYS: TTD Spiced Honey and nut Bun Birthday Cake Muffin Caramel Latte Muffin Custard Ring Doughnut TESCO Fiest Chocolate & Honeycomb Choux wreath MORRISONS Chocolate & Orange Doughnut Chocolate & Orange Brownies GREGGS: Gingerbread Muffin Chocolate & Hazelnut Muffin MARKS & SPENCER Cranberry, Pistachio & Orange Sticky Buns Peppermint Bark Cookies Mini Ham & Cheese Croissants Almond Croissant Blondie Chocolate Pastel de Nata

 

  Source: Ole & Steen Cinnamon Social Slice Waitrose has teamed up with Danish bakery café chain Ole & Steen to expand its in-store bakery offering with an range of sweet pastries. Launching at 35 stores and online, the exclusive partnership is aimed at further accelerating growth at the high-end retailer as well as bringing thousands more customers to the Ole & Steen brand. The range includes a Cardamom Bun, a Maple & Pecan Social Slice, a Chocolate Swirl, and Ole & Steen’s signature Cinnamon Social Slice, which can also be purchased in a sharing format: the Cinnamon Social Half. Among the Waitrose stores introducing the pastries is Newbury, which has recently been refurbished at a new ‘Home of Food Lovers’ concept store to trial ideas and technology such as electronic shelf labels and handheld devices to check stock levels and answer customer queries. “With their emphasis on quality, craftsmanship and respect for baking traditions, Ole & Steen complements ...

Source: www.retailgazette.co.uk  Greggs has launched a new store format, called “Bitesize Greggs”. The new, smaller shops enable the  company  to offer a range of products to more customers in high-footfall, prime locations which are constrained by space. The first “Bitesize Greggs” opened in Sevenoaks railway station on 7 November, creating 10 new jobs in the local area. Operating with a smaller footprint, the format offers a tailored range of best-selling customer favourites, from sausage rolls and steak bakes to sweet treats and Fairtrade hot drinks.  The  retailer  is set to open a small number of “Bitesize Greggs,” in which it will assess consumer behaviour and operational efficiencies in the new fit outs.  The format will see Greggs enter more prime locations – mostly consisting of travel hubs – many of which were previously out of reach due to the size required for traditional Greggs shops. “Bitesize Greggs” are set to be rolled out alongside mo...

 Source:  https://365retail.co.uk/ Co‑Op Opens Its Third New‑Concept Convenience Store in Aylesbury High Street, Offering Hot Foods, Deli Selections and Fast Deliveries for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The Co‑op has unveiled its latest convenience store format in Aylesbury High Street, marking the expansion of its “on‑the‑go” concept. The new format aims to cater to high foot‑flow locations and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner via a compact store design under 600 square feet. This Aylesbury store is the third of its kind, following previous launches in Solihull High Street and Altrincham’s Stamford Quarter. The retailer describes the format as focusing on “food‑on‑the‑go” and offering a mix of familiar meal deals alongside hot serve‑over counters and deli‑inspired selections. Co Op On The Go, Aylesbury 47289 Operating daily from 07:00 to 19:00, the store provides an array of quick serving options. These include hot products such as hot noodles and bakery goods, plus a small s...