Articles by Douglas J. Peckenpaugh

Every so often, the primary aspects of a life fall together so perfectly that it appears that the proverbial fates are smiling upon destiny.

The 2019 Taste/Tomorrow event that took place in Chicago from May 1 to 2 provided a platform for Puratos to release its latest body of independent global research into top bakery, patisserie and chocolate trends shaping today's marketplace.

The frozen snacks and appetizers category has seen steady growth over the past few years thanks to the combined avenues of convenience and culinary diversity manufacturers are bringing to market. These products nicely accent the category, finding a home alongside longtime staples that likewise continue to see growth.

Nearly everyone in the United States has a snack at least once a day, and the frequency of snacking is on the rise. Snacking, for an increasing percentage of the population, is a lifestyle, with multiple eating occasions replacing mealtimes.

While a core aspect of the buns and rolls market is still to serve as unassuming, predictable carriers for everyday sandwiches and backyard barbecues, the category has room for growth, and differentiation is the name of the game.

While fresh bread is the largest category in the bakery industry, it has remained relatively flat for the past several years. But several emerging trends have fostered growth, pointing the way toward future potential for the category.

As presented in this annual "State of the Industry: Bakery" analysis, the U.S. bakery industry is responsible for $51.6 billion in annual sales, covering retail products across 10 vital categories: bars, breads, frozen breakfast, buns and rolls, cookies, desserts, pizza, snack cakes, sweet goods and tortillas.