State of the Industry

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In many ways, the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed continued growth of existing patterns across snacking. For many consumers, day-to-day snacking increased, sometimes fueled by external pressures related to disrupted work, school, and the overall societal status quo. We seek solace in comfort, and the snack industry delivered.

Tortillas, always one of the most versatile breads, had extra mileage to accomplish this past year: consumers wanted better-for-you options for their tacos, flautas, and fajitas. They also wanted these to be easily accessible at their local grocery stores so that they could cook at home during the pandemic.

Conventional wisdom holds that COVID-19 had consumers searching for one thing above all others in 2020, and we're not talking toilet paper.

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 buns and rolls category, including hamburger buns, hot dog buns, dinner rolls, and more.

State of the Industry analysis of the frozen breakfast product category, including frozen waffles and pancakes.

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.