• The consumption of packaged bakery products increased by more than 6% in 2020 compared to 2019, while the consumption of non-packaged products decreased by 11% or even more, according to a study carried out by Gira
The consumption of packaged bakery products increased by more than 6% in 2020, compared to 2019. In contrast, the consumption of non-packaged products decreased by 11% or even more, according to the study carried out by Gira. Packaged products are therefore the big winners of the pandemic, especially packaged bread, which has seen double-digit growth during the anti-Covid restrictions, the cited study shows.
Protective packaging offered consumers safety
Packaging has provided consumers with security and this is a trend that should continue in the long term, reports Gira. In many countries, packaged bakery products have also been encouraged by supermarkets, as staff in bakery production areas have often been allocated to other departments and many in-store laboratories have been closed, at least temporarily.
The consumption of bakery products decreased, last year, by 7% at the European level
The COVID-19 crisis has also had an impact on bakery sourcing strategies. At European level, Gira's estimates for 2020 indicate a 15% decrease in artisanal production of fresh bakery products, while industrial production (products PACKED) would have registered a decrease of only 5 percent. The consumption of bakery products in general decreased, last year, by 7% at the European level, says the same source.
