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.
Bread is the most-important category in the baking industry, but also one of the most-challenging for building appreciable growth. For the 52 weeks ending November 4, 2018, the fresh bread and rolls category grew 0.13 percent in dollar sales to $13.4 billion, per IRI, Chicago.
Bakeries serving the buns and rolls segments of fresh bread have multiple opportunities to build sales by aligning with prevailing trends across retail and foodservice.
While the core market for buns and rolls across retail and foodservice remains steadily anchored in tradition, specialized niches continue to grow, building incremental category interest, and revenue.
A handful of prevailing trends are at work across today’s snack and baking industry to help drive sales forward for foodservice operators, ranging from grain and flavor diversity to an increased focus on health and wellness.