Kara Foodservice has announced its second new range of bakery lines for the UK fo
odservice sector in less than six months following extensive independent research into current foodservice sector responses to Coffee consumer trends. Kara’s new high-quality Café Collection of croissants, pastries and muffins has been specially selected to meet emerging coffee culture trends. The range, available through UK bakery wholesalers from May 2008, includes both take-your-time coffee shop treats to linger over and no-fuss, easy to handle snacks for time-pressed, coffee-on-the-go patrons.
“The Café Collection adds real value to foodservice outlets because our new product lines create new sales opportunities as well as Coffee adding value to the consumer experience,†says Kara Foodservice MD Paul Doughty.
“For instance, Danish pastries are currently only sold in around 23 per cent of independent coffee shop outlets whereas the major coffee shop brands all offer a range of Viennoiserie products. Indeed, even one of the major fast-food chains now has a chocolate twist on their menu. Our survey demonstrated the concerns others had with on-site preparation leading to the potential for under or over-baking which can ruin presentation.
“Until now sector choice has, in the main, been limited to imported frozen or part-baked products which need to be baked on-site before serving,†explained Doughty. “With the Café Collection, we are now one of the very few UK suppliers offering high quality, fully-baked, thaw and serve pastries.
“These can simply be served once defrosted or quickly warmed though rather than requiring full baking, meaning its pretty difficult for the operator to under bake or burn the products. In turn, this Coffee means consistent consumer satisfaction and little or no waste to the catering operator. They retain that oven-fresh look and taste but without all the fuss.â€
Enhanced product presentation and customer focus are also behind Kara’s inclusion of “tulip†muffins. Instead of a basic fluted paper case, Kara’s Café Collection muffins come in attractive tulip petal style paper wraps making them easier to unwrap and providing an instant napkin to catch crumbs so making for a clean eat.
“Our research found small details like this are very important to end customers,†says Doughty.
Presentation, consideration of end customer needs and the creation of additional sales opportunities prompted Kara’s introduction of tubs of mini-muffin bites for grab-and-go locations such as service station food courts as well as coffee shops.
“The beauty of our new muffin bites is that they have no individual packaging meaning they can simply be popped in the mouth and enjoyed,†says Doughty. “Our survey showed food on the move is increasingly important during the hectic working week. Around 1 in 20 foodservice purchases are now eaten in the car. It’s a growth niche which has increased by more than 10 per cent over the past year.
“The Kara mini-bites container has been designed to sit in a standard car cup-holder and the no-mess mini-muffins are a more attractive buy than, for example, a chocolate bar which can’t be shared with colleagues, friends or family. They also produce both a higher margin for the outlet selling them and take the Coffee customer experience beyond the door.â€
Kara’s Café Collection follows the successful launch of its Restaurant Collection of continental speciality breads in January - again based on market research and including organic and seeded products in response to changing customer tastes. Both product ranges are available via bakery goods wholesalers.
“Kara is determined to help foodservice outlets improve margins and retain the Coffee loyalty of their customers through an aggressive new product range programme based on thorough understanding of end-consumers,†says Doughty.
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