Progressive Grocer | With Kurt Burmeister
A Small Indulgence That Can Enliven Everyday Meals
Premium bread products can function to give consumers what they’re looking for today, something closer to the restaurant experience at home. With consumers concerned about the economy, and, in some cases, less inclined to eat out or even to opt for delivery or takeout, given the costs involved, premium bread products can be a way to enhance just about any meal occasion. Also, it doesn’t hurt that foodservice operators have for some years now emphasized artisan and even exotic breads as a vital part of meals. Breads with an international pedigree can engage consumer interest, too, and that’s one reason that brioche, for instance, has been getting more play in restaurants and, increasingly, shoppers’ dining rooms.
Eating better isn’t just about eating out, however. Further, with consumers defining their approach to food more precisely today, especially for health reasons, premium products, including those with a specific profile such as vegan or gluten-free, give many consumers a higher-level eating experience while enabling them to adhere to their dietary disciplines.
Kurt Burmeister, SVP, national sales and importing at Lipari Foods, in Warren, Michigan, affirms that bread products with an elevated cachet are currently in demand. He points out that consumers are trading up to gourmet, grain-forward and internationally inspired breads, which means that these shoppers are increasingly “seeking flavor and function over blandness” and will pay more if an item delivers on freshness, ingredients or a satisfying culinary story.
“Consumers aren’t just tightening spending,” observes Burmeister, “they’re prioritizing value over price.”
Bread, especially in the in-store bakery or in specialty packaged formats, is for many consumers a small indulgence that can enliven everyday meals without costing a lot. Burmeister underscores that Lipari has been working with retailers to help them identify and address premium bread opportunities in a category that’s advancing based on some larger and some subtle shifts.
