It has been two years and counting and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still ripples through the bakery industry. One area it has significantly affected is bakery trends. We have seen “to-go” and single-serve baked goods hit a peak in popularity and we have noticed health and wellness become a focal point in baked good production, all as a result of the pandemic. After the world seemed so chaotic and stressful, a penchant for food and the appeal of the carefree simplicity of childhood gave way to the baking industry’s latest trend, nostalgia.

According to Mintel data, 72% of US consumers say that they enjoy products that remind them of their childhood, and bakeries are capitalizing on the demand. The start of this trend could be traced back to the early pandemic days when consumers turned to baked goods out of a desire for comfort and familiarity. The latest nostalgia trend branches off those feelings and is a wave the industry is riding.

Some of the bakery items that have made a strong comeback as a result of this trend are crumb cake, bagels, s’mores and sourdough to name a few. If you walk into a bakery, chances are some or all of these products mentioned are offered. S’mores doughnuts, s’mores cookies and s’mores cakes are all the rage and are easy to find. Bakeries are opening up that specialize in crumb cakes of all kinds. Sourdough has made an explosive comeback since the pandemic, and we may end up going through yet another bagel boom.

What do all of these have in common? They trigger a memory or a nostalgic feeling that consumers find comfort in. This nostalgic feeling is creating an increase in revenue for bakeries who understand the trend and have their finger on the pulse. One bakery is currently selling 2,000 pounds of crumb cake every week! Equipped with a cookie machine capable of sheeting cake batter in seconds, a bakery could keep up with the product demand and turn an incredible profit.

We are also starting to see more artisan bakeries opening up and producing beautiful loaves of sourdough! Sourdough’s popularity started during the pandemic when health-conscious consumers were looking to keep their kitchens stocked with a good hearty loaf of bread. Now, sourdough continues on its wave of popularity due to the nostalgic trend of having home-cooked foods and breads with family. Bagels are no different. The bagel boom of the 90’s ushered in the bagel as a breakfast staple in many homes, and with this nostalgia trend, bagels are once again booming!

With a quality bakery mixer, producing artisanal sourdough loaves and delicious bagels could help your bakery ride the nostalgia wave and increase profits. The bakery industry is one that is ever-evolving and adapting to the consumer's wants and needs. With a finger on the pulse and the right equipment to keep up with demand, bakeries will no doubt flourish.