“The smell of good bread baking, like the sound of lightly flowing water, is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight,” said M. F. K. Fisher, an American food writer.

Bakery products have been a part of human life for centuries. Products like bread are consumed around the world as a staple food. In ancient times, baked products were made from mixed seeds with barley as a dominant ingredient. However, when wheat flour showed a better response to fermentation, it gradually became the preferred cereal to make leavened bread using advanced techniques. The baking process involves cooking with dry heat in different types of ovens to get the perfect baked product that enchants all with its heavenly aroma.

The term “baked products” refers to products that are based on the use of wheat flour or meal derived from some other grain. They are mostly made using flour, milk, eggs, and butter as key ingredients. Baked goodness is available around the world in the form of bread, buns, rolls, cookies, croissants, pies, pastries, doughnuts, biscuits, brownies, crackers, cupcakes, and muffins among others. Such products may be leavened by yeast (bread, sweet dough), chemicals (biscuits and doughnuts), or air (cakes).

The growing Indian bakery market

In India, the bakery industry is thriving. The year 2022 witnessed the Indian bakery market size reach US$ 11.3 Billion. Going further, it is expected to reach US$ 21.2 Billion by 2028, with a growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8% during 2023-2028. This can be a result of consumers being drawn to convenient foods like bakery products owing to hectic lifestyles.

Hitesh Tripathi, chief executive officer, Tech4Serve, commented on the reason for the growth of bakery products in India, “The market for cookies and biscuits in India is expanding due to several causes, including increased disposable incomes, greater health consciousness, and rising urbanization. Consumers are becoming more and more accustomed to biscuits and cookies because of how convenient, inexpensive, and readily available they are.” In addition, producers are rolling out cutting-edge new flavors and product variations to meet evolving consumer demands. The market is expanding as a result of the increased demand for organic and gluten-free baked products as well.

Commenting on the future of the bakery industry in India, Nirav Sampat, managing director, Vedic Pac-Systems said, “Bakery Industry is growing at a fast pace, both for premium products and high-volume low-cost products. We expect the industry to show secular growth of 10% per annum in the short to medium term.”

Technological developments on the rise

Shedding light on the advancements in the bakery sector, Raghav Gupta, director, Kanchan Metals said, “Laminated products are quite popular in this category and we see a lot of interest in long shelf-life croissants and other popular traditional products like Khari. We are focusing on solutions for long-shelf life products. We have proven solutions for this range of products.”

Various other technologies are being applied to achieve better and consistent quality of baked products. To this, Hitesh had this to say, “To automate the production process, several bakeries are utilizing innovative technology. Automated ovens, packaging machinery, and dough-mixing machines are some examples. Robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are being used to automate production processes and boost productivity. 3D printing enables more innovation and customization in baked products. High-speed convection ovens can cook food up to four times faster than traditional ovens, and use less energy in the process.” Some upcoming technologies in this domain are 3D bread quality x-rays, Continuous mixing technology, Vacuum cooling chambers, Digital humidity sensors, Wire Cut machines, and Hydro bond technology. 

The market drivers

Over the coming years, the bakery market is anticipated to keep expanding thanks to advancements in technology, product packaging, and the lifestyles of consumers, believes Hitesh.

According to Raghav Gupta, Kanchan Metals focuses on solutions that help its customers lower their cost of production. He said, “Our dough dividers are oil-free and offer market-leading weight accuracy that help keep losses and excess giveaway low.”

Hitesh elaborated on a few key drivers of the bakery industry in India:

Product innovations - New flavors, textures, forms, sizes, and ingredients are being introduced by producers. Items that are sugar-free, vegan, and gluten-free are gaining popularity.

Packaging - The need for convenience, single-serve portions, and eco-friendly packaging has increased.

Consumer Lifestyle and Preference Changes - As customers prioritize convenience and become more health-conscious, they are moving towards healthier and portable snack options. They are also seeking out goods with natural ingredients and clear labeling.

All set for Snack & BakeTec, Inter FoodTech and Pac MechEx

Food manufacturers from across India will be visiting this much-awaited exhibition Snack & BakeTec, Inter FoodTech, and Pac MechEx to be held from 7-9 June 2023, at the Bombay Exhibition Center, Mumbai.

Sharing his plans for the event, Nirav said, “We will be representing all our European principals and promote one particular segment within the Indian food industry.”

Hitesh is eager to attend the event with his team and said, “For us, Snack & BakeTec is a place where we celebrate our success with our fellow industry partners. We look forward to networking with as many individuals and businesses as we can to maximize the value of our participation in the expo. We want to make use of the expo to network, discover new technology, and better comprehend the demands of our target market.”

Mukhtar Pathan, director-Sales, VA Exhibitions, the organizers of Snack & BakeTec, Inter FoodTech & Pac MechEx said, “The current edition of will focus on the need-of-the-hour technologies, which will benefit the visitors to capture their requirements to optimize their production facilities. It will also hold live demonstrations of numerous machines creating ideal opportunities for the industry fraternity to dive into the future of food and beverage manufacturing. We welcome all the stakeholders of food and beverage to visit Snack & BakeTec, Inter FoodTech and Pac MechEx 2023 to Engage and Establish new business connections.”

Click HERE to register and confirm your participation in the show