The intersection of Daily Delights and Mindfulness Matters opens the door to an amazing opportunity for retail bakeries today. Dawn Foods identifies four transformative trends in its new Global Bakery Trends, and two – Daily Delights and Mindfulness Matters – can be viewed through a single prism that sheds valuable light on what consumers truly want from the bakery and which types of sweet bakery products they are most eager to purchase.

Daily Delights are represented through smaller-size portions that are perfect for the consumer who wants just a little indulgence in their day. As we place a stronger emphasis on mental health, consumers have increasingly changed their perceptions of sweet goods. Enjoying something sweet has gone from “something I feel guilty about” to “something that makes me feel good,” an essential part of a balanced lifestyle.

Fast fact – More than half of consumers have added sweet baked goods to their routines over the past year.

As for Mindfulness Matters, today’s consumers are putting a great deal of thought into the foods they eat. Aware of how their choices affect their personal health, their community, and their planet, they’re looking for authenticity, and want to make a positive impact on the world.

Fast facts – 73% of consumers eat local as much as possible, and 61% are willing to pay more for sustainable options.

“Trends are being converted now on consumer terms,” points out Sarah Hickey, Senior Director of Marketing and Insights. “For example, every culture has their own version of fried dough. People of different cultures agree on the same, ‘I know this emotion and this feeling.’”

Hickey accentuates the point that there are many innovative products and mashups in the sweet bakery sector, and together they offer consumers a global world of enticing flavor profiles and textures. But it’s even more than that.

“People love to indulge once a day and they want to be very mindful about their choice,” she explains, pointing out how Daily Delights and Mindfulness Matters intersect.

At the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association convention June 4-6 in Anaheim, California, Dawn Foods presented its patent-pending Dawn Exceptional® Pak Perfect™ Non-Sticky Donut Glaze. This breakthrough innovation, designed for small and industrial scale donut production lines, allows manufacturers, commissaries, and in-store bakeries to sell glazed yeast raised donuts packaged in a clamshell.

Dawn Exceptional® Pak Perfect™ Non-Sticky Donut Glaze features a revolutionary non-sticky texture that leaves no residue and has a 5-Day packaged shelf-life.

Pak Perfect Donut Glaze

In addition, Dawn Foods showcased a dazzling array of on-trend options for shoppers at the IDDBA show. Examples include Daisy Donuts made with Dawn Exceptional® Rich Taste Lemon Filling, Banana Split Cupcakes, and much more.

Banana Split Cupcakes

To make Daisy Donuts, start with Dawn Exceptional® Rich Taste Lemon Filling, Dawn White Buttercreme Style Icing, and Dawn Exceptional® Bright Yellow Buttercreme Style Icing.

Fill Bismarks with lemon filling. Place white buttercreme into a piping bag fitted with a large open tip and bright yellow buttercreme into a piping bag fitted with a large grass tip. Pipe five large white petals on top of each Bismarck and fill in the center with bright yellow buttercreme.