Bakery trends to watch in 2022

This year has been a roller coaster for all of us. From indulging in comfort food to trying new food fusions, dietary preferences have changed due to the pandemic. Consumers have been more concerned about their health and what they eat, and this focus will prevail for years.

According to Embassy Ingredients, a flavours and ingredients manufacturing company, consumers are also looking for ingredients providing nutritional benefits in their every day diet.

These consumer habits will increase the demand for natural, clean label and plant-based products in 2022 and beyond.

Plant-based power

Plant-based food has taken the market by storm. With every passing year there is growth in the percentage of people adopting a vegan diet. Research shows the increase in demand for sustainable products will result in a substantial rise in the plant-based food market by 2030. To keep up with the trend, food and beverage companies across the globe have started to broaden their portfolio of plant-based options. In the future, plant-based foods will be an integral part of all restaurants and grocery stores due to increased consumer concern for animal welfare and the environment.

Clean label

It is often said that we eat with our eyes first. The act of food consumption is a multi-sensory experience, and how food looks is as important as its preparation. In an increasingly health-conscious world, the terms, “organic” and “natural” are becoming significant. When it comes to colour additives, the solution comes from nature itself. The clean label trend indicates food is prepared with natural colour and flavour. Natural food products offer various health benefits to consumers, leading to a shift from the use of synthetic products. Embassy sees tremendous growth in the natural space and predicts the natural colour market will double in next 10 years.

According to Embassy, with the growing craze for social media, consumers have been looking for products that not only taste good, but also look beautiful on Instagram.

Spicy and ethnic twist to baking

With these emerging trends, the focus to deliver new and exciting flavours hasn’t diminished. If 2021 was all about comfort and indulgence, 2022 will be ‘spicy’. Flavours like Nashville mac & cheese, Buffalo, mango habanero, chilli raspberry, Mexican hot chocolate, cardamom and all-spice will bring a new twist to pies, cookies and pastries.

A great way to innovate is to combine a familiar flavour with an all-new one, and that’s how bakers will bring ethnic flavours into their applications. Ethnic trends will come up in a food truck format offering exciting new flavours. BBQ, olive-pesto, onion & cheese and chilli-garlic will be some of the top picks.

To conclude, in the coming years, we will see clean label and plant-based products with some exciting flavours and vibrant natural colours in all segments of the market.