Local bakeries are often the springboard for trends that make their way into domestic and international food manufacturing. These ground-level operations cater to smaller markets and use consumer input to tailor their offerings.
This can help establish emerging trends and provide clues for B2B companies looking to magnify the product variations consumers are demanding. What developing trends should be on your radar where baked goods like breads, cookies, cakes, doughnuts, bagels, pastries, and pies are concerned?
Gluten-Free Baked Goods
It’s hard to know if cases of celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and gluten sensitivity have increased dramatically in recent years or if they’re simply better diagnosed and understood these days. However, a 50-year study suggests that undiagnosed cases may have increased by as much as fourfold since about 1950.
It’s no wonder so many people are turning to gluten-free (GF) diets to treat potential gastrointestinal issues. Whether consumers have been diagnosed with gluten sensitivity or they’re self-diagnosing, the market for GF fare is growing.
The GF food market was estimated at $12.3 billion last year, with growth forecast at 10.1% CAGR by 2032. As a result, it’s not unusual to find bakeries offering gluten-free options across the board.
Portland, OR, is a foodie haven, offering alternative diet options galore. Unsurprisingly, the suburb of Lake Oswego boasts one of the most notable GF bakeries in the U.S. — Kyra’s Bake Shop.
Owner and Cupcake Wars winner Kyra Bussanich delivers a celiac-safe menu featuring cakes, cupcakes, muffins, doughnuts, biscuits, and more. Dairy-free, nut-free, and vegan options are also available.
Other bakeries to keep an eye on in the GF arena include Wheat’s End Café and Bakery in Chicago, IL, a 100% GF facility offering brunch, lunch, coffee, and fresh-baked bread and pastries.
Another is Hell Yeah Gluten Free in Atlanta, GA, which strives to recreate authentic tastes and textures of gluten-filled faves like doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, pies, and biscuits in a GF format.
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Plant-Based Sweets
Popular plant-based meats are now showing up everywhere from grocery store aisles to restaurants and fast food joints. This is part of a larger trend of plant-based foods in general, including baked goods that cater to vegan consumers.
In an international food survey, an astonishing 72% of respondents in the U.S. described the desire for more sustainable food options as “urgent.”
Bakery shops across the country are heeding the call, with SoCal locations like Soy Concha Bakery (Santa Ana) offering vegan cakes, cupcakes, and pan dulce, while Gooey Center Bakery (Los Angeles) crafts outstanding vegan cinnamon rolls that rival the real deal.
Mo’Pweeze Bakery in Denville, NJ, serves up an entirely plant-based menu of baked goods like cakes and cupcakes that are also devoid of the top 10 food allergens. When vegan treats are made right, they can not only cater to alternative diets but please mainstream consumers as well.
Related: Trends in Pastry Fusion
Low Sugar and High Protein
Whether consumers subscribe to the keto diet or they’re simply trying to cut back on sugar and increase protein intake, they may struggle to reduce tasty carbs.
Keto Bakery OC in Orange, CA, has the solution with a range of healthy treats that meet keto standards. Cakes, pies, cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and more are all available in keto-friendly versions that could inspire food manufacturers.
Baked Goods That Offer More Than Sweet Nostalgia
A recent surge in nostalgia products, including snacks, comfort foods, and baked goods is giving way to healthier dietary trends, but consumers still crave the nostalgic flavors.
With GF, plant-based, and other health-conscious considerations in play, bakery shops are finding ways to ensure all consumers can have their cake and eat it, too. Food manufacturers in the baking space can take a page from this playbook to inform their own creations and nab consumer interest in the process.
Ready to dive deeper into our products, uncover the latest trends, and gain valuable insights? Reach out to us here today to discover more!
