A new CBA member survey that asked bakers about the top challenges and opportunities they had experienced in 2021 and were expecting in the year ahead, has revealed a significant concern over costs and staffing.
Costs and shortages are the most expected difficulties in 2022, with all bakers (100%) concerned about an increase in costs driving higher prices. Nearly 6 in 10 (59%) bakers are worried about product or ingredient shortages, as well as general staff shortages. Nearly 1 in 2 (48%) bakers also expect to be affected by a shortage of skilled bakers.
Fifty five percent of bakers said that candidates’ lack of experience was the main reason they had struggled to fill vacancies, followed by 41% saying applicants didn’t fit the criteria of the role in other ways, including a lack of knowledge and skills.
Looking ahead to the trends that bakers predict will impact them most in 2022, the most popular was healthy eating (45%), followed by plant-based eating (40%), waste (40%) and shopping locally (40%).
Nearly 1 in 4 (24%) think that sourdough will continue to be popular in the year ahead and 1 in 5 (21%) expect consumers to continue to seek out small and affordable luxuries. The trend for nostalgia / retro (21%) is expected to remain, as is online ordering (14%).
1 in 10 believe snacking (10%) is a trend to watch. Other trends to watch include grains and seeds (7%), natural (7%) and personalisation (7%).
George Fuller, Chairman, CBA commented; “After seeing firsthand the way craft bakers have responded to the challenges of the past 18 months, we are confident they will meet the challenges expected in 2022 with the same tenacity, creative thinking and determination and that they will make the most of the opportunities the next year presents. As always, here at the CBA we will be here to lend our members advice, encouragement, and support”.
