Forecast: Bakery Industry Evolution on Mature Markets

One of the major trends in the bakery world has been and continues to be product diversification, driven by consumption habits – which also applies to the bread and pastry market sectors.

By Catalina Mihu

The industrial pastry market is currently worth EUR 20.931 million, and has remained on a constant positive trend since 2008. In the last five years, the yearly average growth has been 2.5 per cent for European markets, research from the Swiss food and drink consultancy Food For Thought (FFT) shows. The top three markets in terms of value are Russia, Germany and the UK. In terms of expenditure per capita, the top three are Finland, Sweden and Norway, while Finland, Sweden and Switzerland are the top three for expenditure per capita of industrial pastry products in foodservice.

In terms of expenditure per capita, Russia remains the biggest bread consumer, with Russians spending almost EUR 250 per year only on bread products. The next top countries regarding annual expenditure are Austria and France, both countries with a long tradition in bakery products.

“In terms of expenditure per capita, the top three are Finland, Sweden and Norway, while Finland, Sweden and Switzerland are leading the top three for the expenditures per capita of industrial pastry products in foodservice.” Food For Thought

Healthy diet to prevail

The overall bakery market is expected to grow by 7 per cent a year up until 2015 in the major seven West European countries (Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, France, Italy and Spain), where healthy food and gluten-free products are a big influence in the development of new products. The market in these countries is forecast to reach EUR 98.8 billion by 2015, FFT research shows. Artisanal bakers hold an impressive share of the seven markets (7.3 per cent – referring to self-produced for self-sale, independent bakers).

Read the whole article in European Baker, September/October issue.