Consumers are Trying to Eat Healthier, but Still Want Their Treats!

Saturday, October 3, 2020

From donuts to danish, consumers still like to satisfy their sweet tooth.

Despite all the hype about healthier eating, people still want their sweet treats. And they are more popular than ever. Consider the sweets trends over the past few years: the cupcake craze, cake pops’ popularity, the small but mighty almond macaron, and “Insomnia Cookies.” These round-the-clock snacks came about in 2003 at the University of Pennsylvania with an undergraduate at delivering warm, fresh, cookies as a late-night snack to college students. They’ve now grown to a delivery and retail business in more than 25 states with more than 100 store locations. You can purchase cookies as a 9 a.m. morning treat or a 3 a.m. late-night snack. 

It’s safe to say the desire for good sweets will never disappear. Food Business News says, “Americans continue to love everything from snack cakes and muffins to donuts and other baked treats. Eating healthy is important to a growing number of consumers, but so is treating yourself to indulgences, albeit in moderation.”

In fact, the market for sweets is growing. According to Snack & Bakery’s State of the Industry Report for 2017, “Every primary retail segment of sweet goods saw growth over the past year.”

• Overall sales in the pastry/donuts category jumped 4.2% to $5.0 billion
  
  
• Within the category, pastry/danish/coffee cakes sales grew 3.44% to $2.0 billion
  
  
• Donut sales increased 2.89% to reach about $2.0 billion
  
  
• Muffin sales grew 8.45% to $977.7 million

Some consumers today don’t want to gorge so much as they want to graze, and so mini versions of cookies, cupcakes, donuts and other sweets are popular. And while ‘guilt-free’ options are appreciated by consumers, focusing solely on healthy can mean missed sales and customer satisfaction opportunities for those who still want the comfort of a traditional favorite.

Bakers Pride has been making fresh bakery goods since 1991, and our commitment to high-quality products and extraordinary customer service means we’re always looking for new ways to satisfy just about any taste bud. Contact us today and let us help you provide a perfect blend of dazzling treats for your employees, customers, or guests.