Bakery Cafés Show Healthy Growth In Units, Sales

Consumers are fueling the healthy growth of the bakery café market, a sub-segment of the fast-casual market, according to a study by Technomic. Total bakery café units increased 4.2 percent, and bakery cafe sales increased 12 percent during the past three years. The segment now accounts for $5 billion in annual sales and over 3,600 units nationwide, successfully navigating the middle ground between quick- and-full service restaurants. Consumers are visiting bakery  cafés in increasing numbers both as first-time and repeat customers. The Technomic report offers some other interesting insights for restaurant operators and other foodservice professionals. For example, 34 percent of consumers strongly agreed that they would visit bakery cafés more frequently for breakfast if menus offered more breakfast options.