From CSR to marketing might: 6 proven strategies to boost your bakery and snacks business

How to capitalize on Brits’ growing passion for pastries

A new study from Délifrance – called ‘Prove It: Viennoiserie’: based on a survey of 1,000 UK adults and insights from food trend experts Harris & Hayes – reveals that British consumers’ love for pastries is stronger than ever, with viennoiserie outpacing the overall bakery market.

“We look at the trends and products shaping this vibrant category, from continued consumer demand for exciting and indulgent treats to the role of sustainability and pricing,” said marketing director Stéphanie Brillouet.

“We also examine the key factors driving purchasing decisions in both foodservice and retail,​​ including where consumers are buying their pastries, where and when they are eating them, and what they are looking for from viennoiserie.”

By leveraging these insights, your business can ride the wave of this thriving category.

With more shoppers making spontaneous pastry purchases, position eye-catching displays near checkout areas. Attractive packaging and appealing product presentation can boost impulse sales.

Price is now the second most important factor after quality. Offering competitively priced, high-quality pastries can entice budget-conscious consumers without sacrificing their demand for indulgence.

Seven out of 10 pastry consumers want more information on sustainability. Showcase eco-friendly sourcing and packaging to align with this growing consumer priority.

While classics like croissants and pain au chocolat remain favorites, there’s room for creative twists. New flavors or limited-time offerings (LTOs) can keep customers coming back for more.

Understanding when and where your customers consume pastries, whether at home or on the go, can help tailor your offerings and marketing strategies.

How to support the hospitality sector with Invisible Chips

The legacy of the pandemic is still being felt by the UK hospitality sector, with thousands of workers and their families still in crisis.

There is a way that businesses can step in to help – joining an all-star line-up of operators already sending a clear message to their customers that they care.

Fronted by hospitality heroes Fred Sirieix, Heston Blumenthal and Tom Kerridge, Hospitality Action’s Invisible Chips campaign – launched in 2020 – is a simple yet powerful initiative.

Participation is easy. Cafes, coffee shops, restaurants and pubs are urged to add the chips to their menus, priced like traditional chips, with 100% of the proceeds going to support hospitality workers.

Best of all, these chips are calorie-free with 0% fat and zero allergens while being exceptionally easy to prepare, taking up absolutely no freezer space and punch in with an ‘intergalactic’ shelf life.

The idea is that by ‘chipping in’ the cost of the nation’s favorite side dish, Brits will be able to do their bit to support an industry that’s struggling to stay afloat. The chips should also be available online for customers who prefer to dine at home.

Want to make a difference? Visit invisiblechips.org.uk to join the campaign.

How to maximize your success on Amazon Marketplace

With the e-commerce landscape more competitive than ever, pretzel producer Unique Snacks has launched a new platform to help other brands break through the noise on Amazon.

Chief operating officer Justine Spannuth said the idea came after the company noticed a gap in existing services for $10m to $100m brands looking to optimize their e-commerce offerings.

“Our team went through the trials and tribulations of launching and growing a brand via Amazon Marketplace,” he said in a statement.

“Typically, when a business develops an internal expertise, they guard that as a competitive advantage. Following our core family values, we knew we could help other businesses like us grow.”

Unique CPG Services offers all the tools to drive success on sites like Amazon, with services ranging from sales forecasting to creating engagement brand content. And unlike traditional digital agencies, Unique takes a more personal approach by acquiring a brand’s inventory up front, reducing the risk of fulfillment-related fees from Amazon, like out-of-stock or overstock fees. This means you get paid for your products immediately, while Unique handles the rest – from managing listings and customer reviews to optimizing pages.

“These are real partnerships. We’re looking to be the exclusive brand reseller,” said Spannuth.

The Pennsylvania company’s experience speaks for itself: Unique Snacks saw a 20% sales increase in 2023 for its products sold under the Unique Pretzel Bakery Inc. brand. Clients like Mingle Mocktails, too, have experienced growth as high as 360% within two months of working with Unique, while another brand has more than tripled its revenue over the past 12 months.

How to maximize your biscuit sales

With biscuits growing 22.8% faster in convenience stores than other retailers, now is the time to maximize your biscuit range. But how can you leverage key trends to increase sales? FBC UK weighs in.

Embrace ‘newstalgia’. Products like Jammie Dodgers – with their modern redesign and enhanced recipe – tap into this trend by combining nostalgic appeal with contemporary updates.

Single-serve biscuits are ideal for meal deals, encouraging additional purchases. FBC UK’s Jammie Dodgers Giant Edition, for example, placed alongside sandwiches and drinks, could drive impulse buys and increase overall sales.

Price-marked packs (PMPs) account for 75% of sweet biscuit sales, according to FBC UK, so consider stocking lower-cost bestsellers like Maryland Choc Chip Minis.

But don’t forget your premium customer. Premium sweet biscuits are in demand with the ‘Big Cookies’ segment sales up by 23% to £74m. The ‘Special Treats’ segment, according to NIQ, is up 20% year-on-year to £186m, driven by products like Fox’s Chocolatey, Fox’s Fabulous Chocolatey Rounds and Fox’s Fabulous Viennese Finger.

New flavors and formats can drive category growth. Maryland White Choc Chip Cookies and Jammie Dodgers’ latest varieties have shown impressive sales results.

Arrange biscuits by usage and category to improve shopping ease. Group mini biscuits with lunchbox items and premium treats separately to enhance the shopping experience.

How to help tackle holiday hunger

The Meals & More charity – launched by foodservice wholesaler Brakes – is urging the government to extend support for children facing food poverty during school holidays.

In a letter to the Chancellor ahead of the budget submission, the organization – which has already supported provision of more than two million meals for children living in food poverty – highlighted the need to extend the Holidays Activities and Food Program past its initial three-year term and ensure that any future funding is linked to inflation. The charity also wants to see the program extended to cover all children in food poverty, not just those receiving free school meals.

“The introduction of the HAF programme was a major milestone in helping to address holiday hunger,” said operation director Peter McGrath.

“However, there has been no commitment to continue the programme after its initial term. Coupled with that, inflation has already significantly eroded the £200m that the previous Government invested in the programme, making it woefully inadequate in dealing with the problem.”

Helping address holiday hunger and builds brand loyalty and brands can get involved by:

Align with local charities to supply nutritious baked goods and snacks to holiday clubs. Your products can make a direct impact on hungry children in need.

Reduce food waste by donating surplus stock. This will also enhance your corporate social responsibility profile.

Use your business’s influence to advocate for the extension of similar programs.

Create consumer-driven campaigns where for every product sold, a meal is donated to children in need. This will boost both sales and community goodwill.

How to elevate your baking game

UK Flour Millers has launched a redesigned FAB Flour (Flour Advisory Bureau) website that promises to revolutionize home baking.

The website offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies baking for enthusiasts of all skill levels with features such as pre-set baking timers, easy conversion charts and an editable serving size calculator.

Professional bakers, too, will benefit from the site by taking advantage of the features to engage customers and boost sales.

Share FAB Flour’s conversion charts, timers and serving calculators in your product content and social media – this will position your business as a trusted source of baking knowledge, driving customer engagement.

Partner with FAB Flour to promote the nutritional importance of flour-based products. It’s an ingredient that provides 20% of daily energy and 30% of the calcium, fiber and iron consumed. Every day, flour is used to make 12 million loaves of bread, five million packets of biscuits, 4.5 million cakes and buns and two million pizzas, according to UK Flour Millers.