One clear message from shopper behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic era is the "essential" nature of baked goods. In a crisis, the industry provides sustenance, nutrition, and yes, comfort.
Pizza is essential to a high percentage of Americans, a fact reflected in the over $6 billion annual sales for this market segment in frozen retail pizzas alone. While diversification of crusts and ingredients is attracting health-conscious consumers, there is still demand for high quality, Italian-style premium frozen pizza.
The ongoing pandemic has certainly shifted consumer attitudes and behaviors when it come to foods and the foods they choose. Consumers are looking to connect with food and are gravitating to more familiar comfort foods and indulgent items.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have been staying home more often, and searching for familiar snacks. Cookies have helped fill that void, and top brands have taken note of what is trending.
State of the Industry analysis of the fresh bread category, including coverage of loaf and sandwich breads, artisan breads, bagels, and English muffins.
After a year that strained the limits of everything, including the descriptive power of adjectives like "unprecedented," "challenging" and "disruptive", something resembling "normal" (another term laid low by 2020's events) seems finally to be stumbling back to life.
Bakery snacks and snack cakes will always be popular, both for their portability as an on-the-go treat and for feeling like a "small indulgence." Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are still gobbling up these tasty treats, and if they're pre-portioned, that's a plus too.