The sweet and dessert industry is possibly one of the most rapidly changing ones, where trends come and go in the blink of an eye. TikTok, Instagram, and other social media visual content fuel the continuous shifts in trends. Innovative and revolutionary ideas come to the stage, ranging from cooking practices to ingredient sourcing to the refinement method.
Practicing and running a business in this sector is neither an easy feat nor a venture that thrives by inertia. Those founded by sweets and desserts want to learn all the ins and outs of the business when hearing about a new thing before they give it a shot, as these types of customers know what they want, and that is quality, sustainable resourcing, fanciness, savory, and more attributes to be added on the list.
So, what are sweets and desserts consumers looking for in today’s cake shop, and what is the order of prioritization? This article will present you with a list of insights from successful establishments that succeed in staying on top of the competition and expanding their customer base in the face of challenging, ever-changing purchaser demands.
Healthy and nutritional ingredients
With the growing awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of products and increasingly higher demand for products that prioritize satisfying these needs, it’s no wonder that fewer and fewer customers are willing to compromise on these aspects. Nutritional content can significantly impact the decision of a visitor or word-of-mouth targeted person to try and test the dessert business’ products, all the more when there are so many establishments that resort to supplying essential ingredients like cocoa from a health-aware cocoa manufacturer and the list of examples can go on.
However, supplying the ingredient stock with healthy and nutritional choices can sometimes come with a costly price tag. For this reason, a whopping 42% of the world population would focus on satiation and calorie-full meal choices instead of fully nutritional ones, according to 2021 research from the World Bank. But when it comes to desserts and this type of treat that is not a vital choice but more of a fancy selection where customers don’t skimp, it’s safe to say that they’re more willing to spend a few extra bucks for an extra cherry on the sundae. And luckily, cake shops can opt to get their products directly from specialized growers. Procurement from a nuts producer will ensure you the best quality for your buck at a fraction of the price a business would acquire from big-chain markets while ensuring you never run out of these essential stocks.
Catering around dietary restrictions
You may ask how an eatery can be considerate about customers’ most widespread dietary restrictions when new and new allergens, ailments, and digestive sensibilities appear regularly. Well, the key to mastering this strategy and catering to a diverse audience in terms of sweets and dessert requirements lies in conducting thorough research on the residents of the area you’re serving, establishing the main categories and looking into what other successful dessert shops are creating their recipes around.
Say that gluten-free pastries or desserts are having a moment, and places offering these products are more sought-after than any other. Then, you have the response to what your business should focus on in order to remain relevant and gain its fair share of the gluten-free pie.
There are various research methods you can engage in, depending on the subject and budget you’re willing to spend on this undertaking.
Dietary replacements
With the growing prevalence of dairy-free options that span industries beyond the dessert one, it’s unsurprising that plant-based dairy alternatives took over in 2023 and will continue to reign well into 2024. Dairy consumption doesn’t look anything as it used to years ago when businesses these ingredients would represent the foundation of any recipe in cake shops.
Dairy has gained a whole new meaning. According to McKinsey’s recent survey, only 84% of US participants questioned consuming dairy or related products. This means that a substantial portion of the populace finds relief when having a wide selection of dairy-free options, whether you look at almond, oat milk, or vegan butter.
Oat or almond milk may come on the expensive side, but they also bring a plus to the cake shop’s goods-baking process. For instance, the former delivers an unmet creaminess and consistency that improves the texture and taste of mousses.
Authentic flavors
The latest consumer trends show that those keen on procuring their goodies from cake shops are attracted by a diversity of authentic, carefully curated flavors and textures, whether you look at a hot fudge or fruity sundae. Everyone has a sweet tooth, yet one thing most dessert lovers have in common is their devotion to trying new and new flavors due to the thrill of exploration and gathering new experiences.
Excellent taste, quality, texture, and freshness are all characteristics that win customers over and improve the chances of turning them into loyal purchasers.
For instance, spicy or untraditional flavors have risen in popularity
The emergence and progress of globalization brought about a significant change in customer trends who can now gain insights into a foreign cuisine from the comfort of their home only by ordering their picks through food delivery companies. As expected, choices that would once make individuals raise their eyebrows perplexed are now all the hype.
Spicy flavors in desserts such as rosemary or black pepper are undoubtedly not easily found in shops. Yet, such unique and chef-promoted combinations pack an extra punch in sweets and desserts.
From ginger to tofu and from jalapeño to wasabi, it seems like one of the things standing in the way of a cake shop’s success is the imagination.
Closing thoughts
As the dessert industry grows by leaps and bounds and social media is a power source to the ever-changing trends, cake shops have no choice but to open their eyes to the evolving customer preferences and needs and look for ways to leverage them. The tendencies depicted above are some of the most prevalent at the moment, which aren’t likely to leave the sweet stage anytime soon but rather expand in popularity.
