Ironically, it’s the global bakery market that is making the most of society’s growing insistence on healthy living. The millennials are prime demographic and their incremented disposable income is powering a resurgent and highly versatile industry. The demand for gluten-free and organic bakery items gaining steam and premium range of baked food products is finding a niche audience. Thus, our industry experts predict a stupendous growth for the global bakery market in the next five years.
Who’s flocking to the bakery stores?
The Europeans have always loved their bread. With a market share of close to 40%, the baking industry is pretty strong and resilient in this region. Next up, major players in the bakery market are working on building their bases in the APAC and EMEA regions. Even South America has witnessed a surge in the demand for bakery items. Clearly, a change in lifestyle wherein ready-to-eat food is preferred over the traditional fare is powering this development. Also, with multiple market distribution channels and the popularity of flavored baked food, experts are painting a rosy picture for the bakery industry.
Top 12 Bakery Companies Leading the Global Bakery Market in 2018
1. Grupo Bimbo | Mexico
One of the world’s biggest bakery companies, Grupo Bimbo has a strong presence in the US, European, and Asian markets. From freshly sliced breads and buns to pre-packaged foods, tortillas, salted snacks, and confectionery products, this company has covered all the major bakery products.
Its large distribution network has further helped the group to expand its operations in Asian and European markets. Grupo Bimbo already operates 5 plants in Africa and 14 in Asia. Additionally, the company is in talks with regional players in these countries to work on further expansion plans.
Leading Brands: Bimbo, Marinela, Oroweat, and Tia Rosa.
Find out Grupo Bimbo’s market share and revenues in global bakery market
2. Finsbury Food Group | United Kingdom
This leading speciality bakery manufacturer has been on an acquisition spree, with Johnstone’s Food Service being the latest addition to its portfolio. With a meaningful presence in the continental European markets, Finsbury Food Group is working on building a strong presence in the Middle Eastern market as well. The company is also focusing on replicating its UK success pattern in other European countries as well.
Recently, in a bid to cut down manufacturing costs, the company has invested in process automation. Forward facing, innovative and expansion minded, Finsbury is truly a heavy hitter for the global bakery market.
Leading Brands: Kara, Lightbody, Fletchers, Cranks, and Village Bakery.
3. McKee Foods | USA
This family-owned snack food and granola manufacturer is best known for its line of ‘Little Debbie’ snack cakes. McKee Foods has a strong presence in the Americas and is gradually emerging as one of the most sought-after bakery food brands in the APAC region as well.
Just like the other major names in the bakery market, McKee also believes in competitive mergers and the strategy of acquisitions. Drake’s snack cakes is one of its most recent acquisitions.
Leading Brands: Little Debbie, Sunbelt Bakery, and Heartland Brands.
4. Yamazaki Baking | Japan
Japan’s largest bread baking corporation, Yamazaki Baking has a strong presence in both domestic and overseas markets. At present the company has operations in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States. With a clear plan of expanding its base in the Asian market, Yamazaki Baking has launched region-specific curated bakery items. Already, Yamazaki baking has a strong presence in the food supermarkets and convenience stores, which explains its popularity in non-Asian markets.
According to our analysts, a major chunk of the sales for Yamazaki will continue to come from bread and related products. Additionally, western-style confectionaries along with Japanese-style bakery products will also contribute handsomely to its sales numbers.
Leading Brands: Fujiya Co., Vie de France, Tohato, SUNDELICA. Co., Ltd., Bakewise Brands, Inc., and PT Yamazaki Indonesia.
Read more: Is Food Technology the Future of the Food Industry?
5. BreadTalk Group | Singapore
One of the most recognizable names in the Singaporean bakery market, the BreadTalk Group operates through its subsidiary BreadTalk Pte Limited. The company already has a robust presence in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, and India. Expanding across the European markets- although an uphill task- is one of BreadTalk Group’s primary goals in the next five years.
Recently, the company signed a franchise agreement with Bakekneads LLP to establish the Breadtalk bakery chain in Delhi and the National Capital Region in India.
Leading Brands: BreadTalk, Toast Box, Food Republic, Din Tai Fung, and Bread Society.
6. Flowers Foods | USA
Flowers Foods, headquartered in Georgia, had its first bakery inaugurated by the Flowers family in 1919. Today, it is one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States. The company operates more than 40 highly efficient bakeries that produce a wide range of bakery food for retail and foodservice customers in the U.S.
7. Hostess Brands | USA
Hostess Brands, LLC is a bakery company founded in June 2013. It owns several bakeries in the United States that produce snack cakes under the Hostess and Dolly Madison brand names. It is headquartered in Missouri and is owned by HB Holdings, LLC, which is owned by Apollo Global Management and C. Dean Metropoulos and Company.
Read more: Top 10 Vendors in the Global Baking Ingredients Market
8. Aryzta | Switzerland
ARYZTA is one of the leading international specialist food companies in the world. The company specializes in baked goods as well as sweet and savory food, and is a global supplier to the food service, retail and QSR sectors. Its impressive range of products and capabilities include a variety of breads, sweet and savory food. This includes pies, quiches, glazes, sauces, and appetizers. Aryzta has production facilities and kitchens across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
9. George Weston | Canada
George Weston Limited is a Canadian public company, founded in 1882, engaged in food processing and distribution. The Company has two reportable operating segments: Weston Foods and Loblaw and holds cash and short-term investments. Weston Foods concentrates on brand development, low operating costs and maintaining a broad customer base, with the objective of providing the best bakery solutions to its customers.
10. Hillshire Brands | USA
The Hillshire Brands Company is an American food company based in Illinois. In 2014, the company was acquired by Tyson Foods, Inc. Hillshire Brands is a manufacturer and marketer of packaged meat and frozen bakery products for the retail and foodservice markets. The company’s portfolio includes Jimmy Dean, Ball Park, Hillshire Farm, Kahns, State Fair, Sara Lee, Chef Pierre Pies, Aidells, Gallo Salame and Golden Island Premium Jerky.
11. Monginis | India
Monginis is a premier provider of cakes, chocolates, pastries, and cookies, with a commanding and distinguished presence in twelve cities around India and two in Egypt. Monginis sells ready-made and order-made cakes for catering or carry-out and sells both Indian and Western savories as well as snack foods and breads.
12. Pepperidge Farm | USA
Pepperidge Farm is an American commercial bakery founded in 1937. A subsidiary of the Campbell Soup Company, the company is based in Connecticut. Pepperidge Farm products include Milano and Nantucket cookies, Goldfish crackers and varieties of bread.
Read more: Top 13 Vendors in the Global Bakery Packaging Market
Rising to the Challenge: Future Trends for the Global Bakery Market
It seems like a majority of the players in the bakery market are opting for an aggressive strategy. Rapid expansion, introduction of new bakery products and strategic acquisitions will be the norm. Additionally, bakery companies will have to be completely in sync with the customer base’s changing tastes. In 2018, and the years after that, baking the perfect product will be a job half done- attaining the visibility and curtailing the competition will complete the ideal sales equation.
