News and Trends

  Here are the key findings of the Bakery Market Report 2023 Edition : The total UK eating out market reached £91.5bn in 2022, just 0.6% ahead of 2019 levels and 38% up year on year. Thirty seven of the 78 businesses listed as part of the Bakery Market Report 2023 have added to their estates over the past year and a further 21 are holding steady. Greggs represents nearly two thirds of the net new sites with an increase of 147 as it continues its impressive growth strategy. The coffee, bakery-led and sandwich channel has outperformed the total market, totalling £10.5bn in 2022 – 9.8% ahead of its 2019 total. Rising costs across the supply chain, coupled with a cost-of-living crisis, doesn’t make for the easiest of trading environments, particularly in a market often reliant on disposable income. The out-of-home bakery market has seen stability returning after the pandemic, despite the cost-of-living crisis, settling around or above 2019 levels at the end of 2022. Drive-thru is a par...

Summer has officially arrived, and it’s brought with it a host of delectable baked goods. Bakers and retailers are happy to cater for summer picnics, barbecues, and get togethers. So, which flavours and formats can we expect to see? And what consumer needs do they tap into? Source: Ginger Bakers Salted Caramel Jewel Bar Tantalising twists on traditional bakes Bakery consumers can be hard to please – they want to be enticed and surprised, but often not taken too far out of their comfort zones to feel like they’re risking their money on something that won’t deliver in terms of taste. That’s why tradition with a twist is the trend that keeps on giving. “This summer the big trends are hybrid, texture and when it comes to flavour – nostalgia but with a new twist,” explains Jacqui Passmore, marketing manager UK and Ireland at Dawn Foods. Notably, a recent Kantar Profiles/Mintel report from February of this year found that 29% of consumers state ‘new flavour twists’ influence their choice in ...

Source: Schulstad Bakery Solutions Consumer preferences for fruited teacakes are shifting,  according to recent research,  with one in four saying they enjoyed them at least once a week. A nationally representative survey of 500 UK shoppers was conducted in June 2023 by Opeepl on behalf of Schulstad Bakery Solutions. It found that 26% of those surveyed claimed to indulge in a teacake every week, with 19% doing so once a fortnight. The average price respondents were willing to pay for a teacake was calculated at £2.55. Meanwhile, 77% said they would normally buy one with a drink, which Schulstad claimed demonstrated the strength of the revenue opportunity for retailers through offering meal deals and upselling with a hot drink. Traditionally considered an afternoon treat for cold weather months, fruited teacakes appear to now be broadening their year-round appeal. A fifth of those surveyed said they would enjoy a teacake any time of the day, and almost half (45%) indicated they...

 Namnews,  24th May 2023 Tesco is reportedly planning a major review of its entire food and non-food range under a new reset programme called ‘Fit for Purpose’. According to trade publication  The Grocer , it will be the biggest overhaul in the supermarket’s product lineup since the ‘Project Reset’ cull under previous CEO Dave Lewis, which began in 2015 and set out to streamline Tesco’s range by up to 30%. However, instead of setting a target for a reduction in the number of SKUs, the new reset is said to be a “macro level” review of Tesco’s entire store layout. Beginning in September, it is expected to result in major changes to stores in the second half of the company’s financial year. A source quoted by The Grocer said: “The difference between this and Project Reset is they indicated it’s more of a macro level range review, and so in its own way it could be even bigger. “Whereas Project Reset was about setting a target for reduction of SKUs, this is Tesco looking acros...

Image Credit: Getty Images - Evheniia Vasylenko “ Consumers are pivoting to what I would call a more conscious decision-based choice model than following restrictions or diets, but really thinking about the world around them themselves, the environment, their community, and how the food choices that they're making all fit into that puzzle, ​” Hickey said. “ We see the majority of consumers saying they're generally not following a specific diet. They're making their own rules; they're taking advice from other places. They feel like they're making healthy choices, but they're not following something that is strictly rules and restrictions. ​” Chocolate remains king, as global flavors grow Consumers are turning to sweet baked goods for a variety of reasons — from celebrating a special occasion to a mental health moment — which is spurring increased demand for classic flavors like chocolate, Hickey said.  “ I have always said I don't think it's humanly possi...

  Oatly, Nestlé and Innocent Drinks are among those pulling products from shelves as figures show even Veganuary backfired Jon Ungoed-Thomas Sat 20 May 2023  When the dairy-free brand Oatly launched a range of vegan ice-creams, including chocolate fudge and hazelnut swirl, in October 2019, it hoped to entice consumers with flavours described as “unashamedly indulgent”. The range – described by fans as “silky” and “creamy” – was part of what food experts described as a “gold rush” to tap into the vegan market, including “vegfurters”, vegan mayonnaise and marbled plant-based steaks. One analysis found  nearly a quarter of all food products launched in 2019 were labelled vegan . But it appears the boom-time for some vegan products may now be over. While Oatly’s range of oat drinks enjoys high demand, the Swedish company confirmed last week it was withdrawing its ice-cream tubs from the UK market. A spokesperson said: “Given a number of our plant-based friends are doing ...

The nation’s love of doughnuts is more ferocious than ever, and businesses are happy to cater to this appetite with new shops and new sweet treats. For proof, take a look at Project D. The Derby-based business raised more than five times the amount it had targeted through  a recent crowdfunding campaign , with more than £2m pledged to help the doughnut specialist grow in the coming years. Canadian chain Tim Hortons, famed for its doughnuts, is also continuing its march across the UK, while homegrown Planet Doughnut has  unveiled plans for expansion  alongside up-and-coming business Harry’s Handcrafted Doughnuts. Health-conscious firm  Urban Legend  is also making a major play for the market as it looks to entice consumers with lower fat, sugar and calorie offerings. Consumers are spoiled for choice with a growing number of outlets to purchase doughnuts from, each one with their own unique take on the classic sweet treat. So, as  National Doughnut Week ...