From relishing in comfort food to focusing on healthier habits, Flavorchem has identified five trends impacting consumption of bakery and snack products during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comfort Food Takes the Cake
As indulgent bakery sales continue to rise, 79 percent of consumers admit to purchasing more comfort food now than in previous months. Chocolate is still the top quarantine snack with 90 percent of shoppers purchasing some form of this treat in the last three months.

Functional Foods
The heightened health awareness over coronavirus has many consumers seeking decadent better-for-you snacks that still provide nutritional benefit. Plant-based alternatives, herbs and other functional ingredients with perceived health benefits are conventional snack aisle staples. 

Anxiety Baking
DIY consumers are alleviating stress by sharpening their baking skills during these unprecedented times. Yeast, an ingredient commonly used to make bread and other bakery products, saw sales surge by 647 percent in the week ending March 21, compared to the same week in 2019. Online searches for homemade bread recipes hit nearly 900,000 views with banana bread being a staple pandemic treat. 

Childhood Indulgences
Nostalgic flavors, like cinnamon roll and s’mores, are gaining traction as consumers recreate experiences that they are not currently able to do. Backyard margaritas and homemade birthday cake creations will trend deep into summer. 

Flavor Combinations
Salty snacks featuring confectionery coatings have recently seen a strong level of popularity, with caramel corn and chocolate-covered popcorn remaining traditional favorites.  

For the full report on quarantine bakery and snack trends, or to learn how Flavorchem serves bakery and snack manufacturers, contact contact@flavorchem.com.