Sales of home baking products have risen by 25% in five years to reach GBP429m (US$801.5m), according to market researcher Mintel. 


Mintel expects the market to grow by an estimated 28% to reach almost GBP550m by 2011, breaking GBP0.5bn by 2009.
 
Mintel senior market analyst Vivianne Ihekweazu said: “There appears to be a certain nostalgia and sentiment associated with home baking, as it is something people remember from days gone by. The home baking sector has clearly experienced something of a revival, despite the image of 21st Century consumers being time-pressed, convenience food devotees.
 
“The government’s initiative to introduce cooking lessons into all schools by September 2008, should help market growth and ensure that school leavers are able to pass on cooking skills to the next generation. The current popularity of home baking looks set to continue, but the market will need ongoing investment by suppliers in new products to maintain the high levels of interest.”
 
Mintel found that almost half of shoppers are baking from scratch, with cakes the most popular option.  The home baking trend has been helped along by easy to use home baking products such as cake and flour mixes and ready made pastry, said the research group.
 
Sales of mixes were found to have grown by 34% between 2001 and 2006, compared to 8% growth in the shop bought cakes market.
 
“As many consumers are tending to bake for special occasions, they are less concerned about watching the calories, but opt for the best quality ingredients available. They take pride in having baked and appreciate the freshness of the fruits of their labour. As such, sales of premium quality ingredients are likely to continue to thrive,” concluded Ihekweazu.