With the incline in demand for sweet baked items, we will undoubtedly formulate options that have your cake and eat healthier ingredients with a calorie-controlled portion size (for example, 100 calories).

Smaller-sized and single-packed items will be more prevalent as the consumer adapts their diet to meet all of their needs, from wellness to fuelling craveability.

Current health and wellness issues have fuelled the surge of consumers looking for specific health and wellness claims. Clean labels are important for all consumers who have an ideology of eating what is better for you, what makes you feel good, and what is best for the world. All of these positions can affect the labelling of key marketing messages and ingredients.

Growing categories in today’s market are ‘better for you’ ingredients, controlled size and calorie count, sweeteners and antioxidants, to name a few. There is also a plethora of ‘craft ingredients’ used in trendy sweet bakery items, such as maple syrup, beer, honey and expeller sunflower oil. These items add flavor, texture, colour and a nuance of local produce that is right on trend.

Many health-conscious consumers are concerned or sensitive to artificial ingredients and preservatives in all their food choices. Consumers in general are looking to reduce carbs while getting their fibre, minerals and vitamins though wholegrain and fortified products. It is very possible to support their honourable efforts in the bakery, through products like brownies fortified with wheat berries, flaxseed and the like. With the right development strategy, we will be able to add healthy, all natural ingredients to mainstream items, which will enhance their wellness appeal and drive home craveable flavour.

Wellness ingredients are quite abundant in today’s development portfolio and can be used in the bakery category to develop healthy and tasty bakery alternatives. For example, using an ancient grain like quinoa in a sweet baked item (muffin, brownie or cupcake) formulation can add a healthy halo to the label and provide nutrient-dense consumer products. Have your cake and eat it too?

Pulses added to a sweet baked product can provide protein, micronutrients and texture, which can attract the attention of those ‘flexitarians’ out there.

We are now in the day and age where the nutrients found in a healthy diet can be procured from new and unique places. I am looking forward to all the development possibilities that will add value and make the world a more flavourful place to live. Remember, however, that in order to drive repeat sales, “It is all about the flavour that sells!”