The Sensory Experience of Bakery Breads
Why customers skip the center aisles, and beeline for the bakery
There is a reason bread has been nearly universal for thousands of years. Actually, there are a
few:
- It smells great
- It tastes delicious
- It has pleasant textures
- It provides nutrition from the grains it's made with
- It's filling
Most of these examples relate to the senses - smell, taste, sight, and touch. Making the most of
the sensory experience is a way that in-store
bakery breads have an advantage over packaged bread from the center aisles. Bakery bread is more
likely to end up in a shopper’s basket if it
seems to be tasty, fresh, and high quality.
Aroma of baked bread brings people to the bakery
Bread that’s baked onsite creates a scent that compels consumers to follow their nose. Pleasant
food-related smells — especially those
associated with baked goods — promote a biological response that can both trigger appetite and
conjure positive memories.
Look and feel of bread indicates quality
From craft packaging to artful scoring to the color of the crust, bakery breads look like an elevated choice that’s just the thing to make a meal more special.
Breads with uniform shape, plus firm and often crunchy crusts that give way to soft and fluffy
interiors feel fresher to shoppers. Perceived
freshness is a strong selling point over packaged breads that can be thought of as too processed
or less healthy.
Making fresh-baked bread a reality for your in-store bakery
This all sounds good, but you might be wondering how to make fresh-baked bread with the time and team you have. It is possible to enjoy the benefits of baked bread, without a lot of time and skilled labor to make it.
General Mills Retail Foodservice understands it’s not easy to secure skilled labor for your in-store bakery. That’s one of the reasons we offer frozen bread doughs that simplify the steps and make it possible for various skill levels to craft fresh-baked experiences. Our core offering of rolls and loaves are:
- Easy to prepare without the labor-intensive steps of mixing, dividing, and shaping dough.
- Convenient to add to your operation with a lenient time range before floor proofing.
- A blank canvas that you can customize back of house to create a variety of items for your bakery.
- Consistently delicious, uniform in size and shape, and always made with the same high-quality ingredients.
Let’s get started
Partnering with General Mills Retail Foodservice is a step toward improving your bakery’s success. Fill out a short form and a sales rep will contact you to start the conversation.
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