Consumer interest in comfort foods, especially indulgent foods, is higher than ever. Yet the forces driving that interest are in conjunction with an equally high awareness of the importance of nutrition to health. The two trends need not be in conflict, however. Several strategies already are firmly rooted in formulating better baked goods.

Brynwood Partners VIII L.P. announced that it has acquired De Wafelbakkers from its current owners, The Oklahoma Publishing Company, a subsidiary of the Anschutz Corporation. Terms and conditions of the deal are not being disclosed.

Pillsbury is taking up residence in the cookie aisle for the first time ever. The new line of Soft Baked Cookies are ready to eat out of the package.

Hu announced a new line of grain-free, no-added-added cookies, now available for purchase online now through HuKitchen.com, Amazon, and coming to Sprouts stores nationwide in April.

As the coronavirus pandemic caused lockdowns and a number of office workers relocated to working at home full-time in 2020, many consumers began to spend most of their time at home and looked for more home-based activities. Baking activity took off, and subsequently, sales of baking-related products soared by 24% last year to reach to $26.5 billion, reports market research firm Packaged Facts in the new report Home Baking: US Market Trends & Opportunities.

Ardent Mills announced the launch of its Keto Certified Net Carb Flour Blend, the industry's first major net carb flour blend for keto and low net carb baked applications. The innovative formulation can be used as a replacement for conventional flour without compromising taste, texture or functionality.

Sauces, dressings, and condiments, such as mayonnaise, benefit in obvious ways from the emulsifying properties of the egg yolk. While it is easy to observe the importance of a stable emulsion in mayonnaise or a dressing where one can witness the battle between immiscible liquids (typically water and fat) as they strive to separate from each other, emulsifiers play an important although less obvious role in other formulations. 

Bakery foods, especially baking ingredients, were one of the first categories to experience COVID-19-induced consumption gains in 2020. Last spring brought shelter-in-place orders and they unleashed a once-in-a-lifetime stampede for home baking supplies.

Birch Benders introduced a line of keto-friendly and organic cake and brownie mixes, as well as two keto-friendly frostings.

Comax Flavors has released new primary research on consumers’ behavior, usage, and attitudes towards all protein products—including powders, drinks, bar, bakery foods and other related snacks.