The bakery category is evolving fast, driven by consumers who crave the comfort of nostalgic flavors alongside clean-label ingredients and visually striking products. For food manufacturers, this shift offers a unique opportunity to modernize bakery classics and capture growing market demand. In this post, we explore five key strategies that can help you innovate effectively by combining tradition with creativity to create bakery products that stand out on shelves and delight consumers.
Market Opportunity in Bakery Products
The global bakery market is on the rise, fueled by changing consumer expectations around health, transparency, and sensory appeal. People still crave their favorite comforting bakes – but they now want them to feel fresher, more intentional, and better-for-you. Clean-label ingredients, nostalgic formats, and bold visual appeal are all driving this shift. According to the 2023 IFIC Food and Health Survey, 83% of consumers say taste is their top priority, and 65% factor in healthfulness when choosing what to buy. For bakery brands, this creates a sweet spot: blending emotional connection with modern demands to deliver products that are delicious, recognizable, clean, and visually irresistible.
Top 5 Strategies to Modernize Your Bakery Products
Innovation in bakery requires balancing tradition with creativity. Here are five strategies to help manufacturers update their products and stand out in the market:
1. Reinvent the Familiar
Start with the classics—cookies, snack cakes, muffins—and give them a fresh twist. Introduce new flavors, premium ingredients, or playful formats. Think tea-glazed cakes or PB&J reimagined as a macaron.
2. Let Color Do the Talking
Bold, natural color draws eyes and drives trial. Use EXBERRY® plant-based colors made from fruits, vegetables, and edible plants to create standout visuals – no synthetic additives, just clean-label appeal.
3. Play with Texture
Texture is the new frontier of flavor. Add intrigue with crunchy toppings, gooey centers, or layered builds. These sensory contrasts elevate familiar bakes into must-try moments.
4. Use Limited-Time Drops to Test & Excite
Seasonal or “drop-style” launches create urgency and allow for low-risk experimentation. Rotate colors, flavors, or formats to spark interest and tap into cultural moments.
5. Build a Story into Every Bite
Consumers crave meaning. Use flavor, color, and clean-label cues to craft stories—of nostalgia, joy, indulgence, or wellness—that deepen emotional connection.
Concept spotlight: From idea to impact
Today’s modern bakery trends are opening new doors for innovation. Here, we explore three standout concepts from our EXBERRY® Culinary Team that combine clean-label innovation with visual wow:
PB&J Macarons – This sophisticated reimagining of the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich transforms a childhood favorite into a premium indulgence. A traditional macaron base is colored with EXBERRY® Shade Golden Brown Powder and enhanced with a striking Shade Purple Plum swirl. The familiar PB&J flavor pairing is elevated with a clean-label buttercream tinted with Shade Amber, creating an Instagram-ready treat that balances comfort with surprise.
Cookie Fries – This playful format turns a savory icon into a sweet, shareable snack. Shortbread “fries,” tinted with EXBERRY® Shades Bright Yellow, Vivid Orange-OS, and Brilliant Pink, deliver a bold pop of color and joy. The concept invites seasonal creativity, such as pairing with a fruit-based “ketchup” dip and offers strong potential for limited-edition packaging and promotional campaigns.
London Fog Cake – An elegant tea-cake updated for modern shelves. Earl Grey and orange zest infuse a premium base; a dramatic fig jam swirl, colored with EXBERRY® Shade Purple Plum, creates a marbled effect that signals botanical sophistication and seasonal relevance.
Modern bakery growth starts with a clear idea and the right color partner.
Whether you’re looking to spark nostalgia, explore new formats, or bring a bold seasonal concept to life, our EXBERRY® colors are designed to help you stand out.
👉 Download our full concept sheet to explore 8 clean-label bakery ideas.
👉 Email us to request free samples and application color guides.