Top Bakery Trends for 2025

16th October 2024

There’s a lot of room to experiment in the bakery world as we head into 2025! With our 100 years’ experience working with bakeries, caterers and manufacturers, we keep up-to-date with what’s hot and what’s not in the world of cakes and bakes to help you keep on-trend and meet consumer demand.

Flavours

Incorporate classic flavours like pistachio into your bakes in 2025; its nutty flavour and vibrant colour is showing no signs of going out of style. Coffee-flavoured bakes are always popular, but for pure decadence, tap into the growing trend of Tiramisu-inspired bakes, from brownies to cupcakes that we’re sure consumers will love! With the rise of the Sour Power trend[i], experiment with new fruity flavours, from guava and plum instead of lemon for a tangy and tantalising twist!

Cinnamon buns, we expect, will continue to remain popular! There’s plenty of room to experiment with these classic treats too – with the twist of cardamon or peanut butter!

Look to social media!

Something we’re continuing to see more of is stuffed, and flavoured pastries, especially croissants! The #Crookie took social media by storm, but the Cruffin is still popular and who could forget the viral cube croissant! Social media continues to see a growing number of experimental bakes too – including strawberry or blueberry sourdough croissants!

Excite customers with innovative bakes – and we’re sure they’ll be popular on Instagram!

Create FOMO

 There continues to be a growing number of products in the food-to-go and bakery market that are part of a series of limited-time only, brand partnerships to drive conversation and excitement and help inspire sales.[ii] In 2025, brand collaborations are predicted to be a major trend and could be an excellent way to help boost sales – from cookies, sandwiches or cakes.

Maintain Quality

Research has shown that food-to-go led channels, including that of sandwich and bakery chains, as well as coffee shops and cafes are driving growth, and are forecast to continue to increase until 2027.[iii] A golden opportunity presented to bakery businesses in 2025, is that for consumers, ‘treat’ is the second top mission for eating out, as they return to routine behaviours.[iv] This is great news for the bakery sector! While consumer purchases report to be value-led, as a result of the cost-of-living crisis, quality still remains an important factor.[v]

Meet the demand for functional foods!

 Research has found that 44% of Food-To-Go consumers would consider themselves “health conscious”, and this rises to 49.8% for those aged between 25-34. [vi] This means there’s a growing need to have alternative offerings, from plant-based, to low sugar or gluten-free, to reach a growing younger consumer.

We’re expecting bakery products with added benefits to continue to grow; predicting high-protein products and even protein celebration cakes making an appearance, as consumers look at ways to have ‘better for them’ sweet treats.

With our 100 years’ bakery experience, we’re on hand to help guide you to the best trends and bakery ingredients for your business!

Get in touch with us today!

[i] McCormick Flavour Solutions, Flavor Solutions 24th Edition, https://www.mccormick.com/flavor-forecast-2024

[ii] Lumina Intelligence, March 2024

[iii] Lumina Intelligence, Market Sizing Insight & Analysis, May 2024

[iv] As above.

[v] Lumina Intelligence Eating and Drinking Out Panel, data collected 52WE 15/05/2022, 52WE 14.05.2023 and 52WE 12.05.2024

[vi] Lumina Intelligence Eating & Drinking Out Panel 52WE 31/12/2023