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Bakery market- Most affordable ready-to-eat foods
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Thursday, 24 February, 2022, 13 : 00 PM [IST]
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Karan Chechi
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Baked products have been around for many years, unlike traditional food people nowadays prefer ready-to-eat food which is affordable and convenient for everyone.
Ready-to-eat foods are those that are prepared so that they can be enjoyed without further cooking. Ready-to-eat meals can be refrigerated, are shelf-stable, require minimal heating, or are served hot. Specific criteria apply to ready-to-eat foods to ensure that there is no contamination or risk of bacteria growing after the foods have been prepared.
Some ready-to-eat foods in the bakery market are bread, bread roll, flatbreads, doughnuts, muffins, pizzas, buns, pastries, pies, crumpets, tarts, brownies, cakes, cupcakes.
Baking was first practised during the Roman Empire. It was a very well art since Romans liked baked goods and frequently requested them for special occasions such as weddings and feasts. Due to the popularity of baking, it was established as an activity and a valued vocation for Romans around 300 BC.
Bakers started manufacturing bread at home, using mills to grind grain into flour for their loaves. The demand for baked goods remained high, and in 168 BC, the first bakers' guild was established in Rome. As a result of customer demand for baked goods, baking spread across Europe and into Eastern Asia. After making bread and other baked goods at home, bakers began selling them on the streets.
Baked products were soon being sold mostly on streets of Rome, Germany, London, and other places as a result of this trend. As the demand for baked goods increased, a system for delivering baked goods to people's homes emerged.
Bakers began opening shops where people could purchase baked goods as a result. The first marketplace for baked goods was established in Paris, and bakeries have since become a favourite place to buy tasty meals and socialise. Bakeries were frequently viewed in this light during the colonial period.
The convenience provided in terms of time savings and minimal effort necessary for meal preparation is driving the growth of the ready meals business. Furthermore, the fact that these meals just require heating before consumption has piqued the interest of the working population and millennials. To fulfil expanding demand and achieve considerable market share, manufacturers are working on developing new products.
For example, Freshly Inc., a food delivery business operated by Nestle SA, announced a new line of products for consumers ‘looking to manage their wellness and drive active lifestyles' in 2020. The keto, paleo, and plant-based diets are all represented in FreshlyFit ready-to-eat meals. The items are gluten-free, feature a simple label, are made with whole-food ingredients, and can be prepared and served in less than three minutes.
Bakery lunches are becoming increasingly popular in India. Bakery items are becoming more widely available across the country, including in rural locations. Bakery items have a longer shelf life, and it's usually a meal that can meet the stomach's needs. These bakery meals are available in single-serving and large-serving sizes for families.
Bakery meals are always favoured, unlike traditional Indian food such as rice and dal, they are easier to manage while eating. This is one of the reasons they are always a viable option for those who are unable to relocate for various reasons.
Bakery foods have entered the industry at a rapid pace; Indian consumers' per capita income is rising every day, allowing for a larger market for bakery dinners. Consumers that are price aware make up a sizable portion of the market. Bakery meals are divided into several categories; some are relatively low-cost, making them accessible to individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds; others appeal to people from the upper-middle and upper classes.
India has a significant number of young customers who make up the bulk of the work force in various companies; most of the families are nuclear, and they are mostly in the double-income bracket. This causes them to buy bakery meals and spend time together rather than cooking.
The rising popularity of bakery lunches is bolstered by the growing variety of items available. In bread products, not just western but also Indian pallets are mixed or fused. Baked samosas, chicken tikka bread rolls, and so forth. All these elements point to a promising future for bakery lunches in India.
We may divide bakery ready-to-eat food into distinct divisions based on packaging, distribution networks, and product type. In general, we find that in a developed country, food consumption rises with population expansion, whereas in a developing country like India, food demand rises with population growth and, at the same time, with the growing income of the masses.
India has a huge population of young men who are the primary consumers of bakery meals. However, it is also true that children are picky about what they eat. Alternatives that are healthier are always welcome. Due to these preferences alone, we now have a range of breads to choose from when creating sandwiches, and even cakes and other bakery products include healthful enzymes.
A substantial segment of Indian consumers is price conscious, which is a constant problem for food manufacturers.
We can observe that demand for bakery meals is expanding not only in India, but also globally, as a result of customers' hectic lifestyles and rising income levels.
Percentage of working women is increasing in the country. This means they have a better option for ready-to-eat food, and bakery items always provide a variety of options in this regard. A large number of people are relocating from class B to class A cities, which is changing people's lifestyles and eating habits.
It has also grown in popularity during the Covid period, owing to the fact that bakery products are rarely consumed at the last minute. Almost all bakery products are prepared 6 to 7 hours ahead of time. Reheating the bakery dishes is always an option because they can be microwaved quickly before consumption and offer the impression of freshly baked foods. They are popular since their shelf life is already long. Bakery meals also reduce the annoyances of intricate kitchen aids, which are unfamiliar to most people.
So, while the bakery sector is vast when it comes to ready-to-eat items, that doesn't mean that live baking isn't going on. That has potential as well, but rising demand, a lack of time, a hectic lifestyle, and other factors are all contributing to the growth of the market for ready-to-eat food.
One area on which Indian manufacturers should concentrate is the point of production cleanliness and sanitation. In order for consumers to acquire the greatest products, India's laws need to be more firm and stronger. The trends and demands in the Indian bread sector have provided producers with a lot of opportunities, and Government is also providing financial assistance to entrepreneurs.
(The author is research director at TechSci Research)
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