According to a study conducted by Global Industry Analysts, bakery and pastry industry is expected to globally expand, exceeding $410 billion in 2015. Demand for baked and pastry products is, and will be driven by the continuous changes of customers' lifestyles that leave little or no time to cook proper meals. Consequently, busy working, and time-less consumers are, and will opt to purchase fast baked snacks and food including sandwiches, rolls, wraps, scones, doughnuts and other pastries. Affordability, convenience and health benefits of certain baking and pastry products are other key factors driving global expansion of this industry as well.
As known, the bakery and pastry industry is a specialization within a broader industry called "food preparation and serving", and it covers products like cake, bread, scones, cereals, biscuits and infinite collections of pastries. Although baking and pastry industry has been solidly established in North America and Western Europe, other potential markets have also emerged in regions like Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Africa as consumers in these regions began to adapt western lifestyles, eating habits and preferences. The most important companies leading the global bakery and pastry goods industry are: Grupo Bimbo, George Weston Foods, Kellogg's, McDonald's, United Biscuits, Bahlsen, Nestle, The Great Canadian Bagel, Britannia Industries, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Bruegger's Enterprises, Yamazaki, BAB Inc., Parle Products, and Strauss Group. According to Marketline, and Global Industry Analysts, rolls and bread make up the top market segment in the global baked and pastry goods industry with an anticipation to surpass $170 billion in 2014, representing approximately 12% growth in five years. In terms of value, artisanal bread and rolls segment accounts for 52% of overall baked goods industry, with Grupo Bimbo alone holding more than 3% market share, and thus being the leading company operating in this market. According to another research conducted by Marketline on regional bread and rolls market, particularly in the United States and France, significant growth have been recorded in 2010 compared to the four preceding years in both countries. The bread and rolls market in the United States exceeded $17 billion in 2010, displaying a yearly growth of 3% ,with industrial rolls and bread sector alone generating more than $10 billion sales in the same year, thus accounting for 61% of overall market. Of course, according to Marketline analysts, the bread and rolls market in the US will keep on growing at an annual rate of more than 3.5% up till 2015, making over $20 billion in sales. The bread and rolls market in France on the other hand, reached around $8 billion in 2010, following an annual growth of more than 0.5%, with artisanal bread and rolls sector alone generating sales of approximately $4.5 billion in the same year, which accounts for more than 56% of overall market. Marketline analysts though anticipate that the bread and rolls market in France is to maintain a yearly growth of 0.5% up till year 2015, generating a little bit more than $8 billion in sales.
Bakery and Pastry Industry Outlook:
As consumers lifestyles, eating habits and preferences keep on changing, demand for various baked and pastry products will emerge, forcing bakeries and manufacturing companies operating in the baking and pastry industry to concentrate on product innovation so as to meet consumers needs. On one hand, as reported by Global Industry Analysts, there are consumers in the United States who are opt for rich and indulgent baked products such as cakes, filled sweet biscuits, cookies, and pastries with more butter, creamy icing and finest kinds of chocolate spread. On the other hand, there is another type of consumers who are quite concerned about their health and nutrition, thus, demanding free-trans fat (unsaturated fat), whole grain, low-carbohydrate, organic ingredients, and gluten-free baked products that are preferably packaged in small size packs for portion control purposes. Consumers' demand for both healthier and indulgent baked goods will keep on rising concurrently as analysts forecast. To ensure customers satisfaction, bakeries, and companies operating in the baking and pastry goods industry will keep on producing what consumers need, yet with more emphasis on the health benefits of their baked products. That is to say, industry analysts are predicting that those manufacturers will likely to:
- Produce baked and pastry goods with top quality natural ingredients.
- Eliminate trans fats from their baked products.
- Reduce the amount of additives and artificial ingredients used in the production of baked products.
- Produce more gluten-free baked products for the rising market segment of gluten-sensitive consumers.
Logically speaking, as population and income grow, consumers will continue to demand more baking and pastry products for consumption. And as demand for more specialty baked products like mentioned above keep on rising, highly skilled pastry chefs and bakers, equipped with years of baking experience and/or baking and pastry arts degree or culinary arts education will have the advantage of securing the best, most competitive baking career opportunities within the food preparation industry.
For more information about the baking industry, you may want check the leading industry associations including: Retail Bakers of America, American Bakers Associations, International Dairy Deli Bakery Association, National Association Of Master Bakers, Baking Industry Association of New Zealand.
