Sweet baked goods
Spice rather than spicy has seen some growth in cakes with the use of cinnamon for seasonal winter offerings.


Spicing it up a bit

Seasonal ingredients and flavors are trending because they reinforce the notion of authenticity and, in many cases, the appeal of locally sourced products and ingredients. Many of today’s consumers gravitate toward desserts produced locally, according to IDDBA.

Packaged cakes in the U.S. are behind the curve on flavor innovation, according to a Mintel 2016 Product Innovation report on bread, bakery and cakes. Sixty-eight percent of cake consumers overall — not just millennials — are interested in new flavor choices for packaged cakes.

Sweet baked goods
Salted caramel continues to grow in the cake segment.

Spicy and savory flavors are more frequently found on restaurant menus. However, packaged cake launches in retail sectors relied on more conventional and commonplace flavors like chocolate, vanilla and fruit, especially lemon and strawberry, according to the report. Spice rather than spicy has seen some growth with the use of cinnamon for seasonal winter offerings. Caramel and salted caramel continue to grow as well.

During the past 18 months, Tastykake introduced unique flavors and different products, such as peach cobbler and caramel mini cupcakes, as well as alternative packaging formats featuring gable-top cartons for their minis.

“We challenge our team daily to develop new and different ideas that will stretch the brand and keep ­consumers interested,” Mr. Bradshaw added.

Mrs. Freshley's icers
New products as well as line extensions keep consumers engaged and drive sales in the sweet goods category.

The sensory appeal of texture has the potential to impact the packaged cake segment, according to Mintel’s Global Review. Products that are designed to be heated to create a liquid, gooey center have begun to appear in bakery markets. Also, a more visual food culture has made room for innovations that showcase bold colors and originally constructed shapes and formats, according to Mintel’s 2016 Food and Drink Trends, titled “Eat with Your Eyes.” Bright colors and eye-catching shapes create a food experience.

“At Clyde’s, we’ve developed a whole array of seasonal flavors and decorations in cake and yeast donuts — as well as fritters — to offer our customers throughout the year, including items like hearts, footballs, stars and Christmas tree shapes,” Mr. Bickford said.