Booming Categories in the In-Store Bakery

Most sectors of retail would likely say the recession has not been beneficial for their business.  While the retail supermarket channel is more protected than some outlets due to the necessity for food as well as consumers’ tendencies to eat at restaurants less frequently, some fresh food sales still declined in the past year;  produce sales, for example, decreased 2.5% in 2009 compared to 2008.

The bakery department is one area that experienced the opposite effect.  With sales increasing substantially in key bakery categories, it is clear that many consumers have turned to their in-store bakeries, rather than specialty bake shops or restaurants, for their baked goods.