Renaissance to revolution: why the rise in sourdough shows no signs of slowing

Sourdough is nothing new. In fact, it can trace its roots back thousands of years. However, when mass-produced, ultra-processed white bread gained ground in the post-war era, the popularity of ‘authentic’ and ‘rustic’ breads, such as sourdough and wholegrain, soon waned.

In recent years, though, sourdough has enjoyed something of a renaissance, thanks in large part to the impact of Covid-19. “With more locked-down consumers seeking out health-boosting, artisanal breads and taking up the at-home baking baton, demand for sourdough ingredients and products boomed – with Google searches relating to bread and ‘sourdough’ increasing five-fold,” reveals Ben Ledger, marketing manager for bakery at Puratos UK.

The pandemic may seem like a distant memory, but the trends are here to stay, he says. “In fact, new 2023 Taste Tomorrow research found that one in five (21%) UK consumers now bake bread at home and more than two thirds (68%) believe sourdough adds more taste to bread,” he notes. “It is clear people have developed an appetite for fresher, more indulgent, natural baked goods, and, as it ticks all of these boxes, sourdough as an ingredient will continue to give flavour and gain favour.”

Here, Puratos takes a closer look at what is driving consumer demand and how manufacturers can stay ahead of the sourdough curve.

Freshness, taste and price reign supreme

The latest Taste Tomorrow findings have revealed that freshness, taste, and price are the three most important elements when shoppers come to choose bakery products.

The area in which bakers can exert most control and influence is taste, as the opportunities are endless. And the unique tastes and varied textures associated with sourdough products satiate consumer desire for more diverse and flavoursome food.

Conventionally, sourdough breads have been sour and tangy, but Puratos’ recent sourdough research has found that mild, fermented types have the widest appeal to all consumer types. Further expanding bread ranges with more varied flavour profiles, from creamy and malted to fruity, earthy and toasted, can cater to differing tastes and therefore attract new customers.

There is also an opportunity to leverage the widely held view that sourdough is healthy. Taste Tomorrow reveals that almost half of UK consumers now believe that sourdough loaves are healthier than standard loaves, which may be explained in part by the perception that fermented products have gut-supporting, digestion-inducing properties.

Its simplicity also has appeal. Sourdough is a live starter culture, usually based on water and flour which, when fermented over time, is the leavening agent in sourdough bread. This fermentation process, combined with the short ingredients list, attracts consumers seeking more natural, less processed products. In fact, ‘all natural ingredients’ was found to be a top characteristic when purchasing baked goods, according to Taste Tomorrow.

A look into the future of sourdough

The new Taste Tomorrow data has also found that price is a pivotal factor when it comes to purchasing sourdough. However, price parity is one of the biggest challenges for manufacturers, particularly given the current cost-of-living crisis, as consumers often associate sourdough with a premium price tag.

”Price is a pivotal factor when it comes to purchasing sourdough. However, price parity is one of the biggest challenges for manufacturers”

Brands and bakers can help to overcome this by emulating and promoting the qualities that consumers believe are worth paying more for, such as freshness (40%), the use of local ingredients (24%), and innovative flavours and taste (23%).

There is also opportunity for supermarkets to become a champion of cost-effective sourdough. Taste Tomorrow’s research has discovered that 52% of consumers are purchasing more bakery products at the supermarket in an effort to save on costs. With this in mind, multiple retailers are increasingly attempting to make sourdough products more accessible, affordable and competitive with other bread types by breaking down the cost barrier. And they are succeeding, with some packaged half loaves priced under £2.

Furthermore, opportunity lies in sourdough’s versatility. Used as an ingredient, sourdough is being incorporated into many different applications, bringing its myriad benefits and wealth of flavour to categories such as patisserie, desserts and savoury meals.

Another food topic on the top of consumers’ priority list is sustainability. The prioritisation of healthy soil, healthy plants and, ultimately, healthy food aligns perfectly with conscious consumer values. Taste Tomorrow data shows that 69% of consumers are interested in food produced through sustainable farming methods and 60% consider products made in this way better for the environment. A notable advantage of regenerative farming is that it can improve the health of the cereals grown in the soil, capture carbon from the atmosphere and increase biodiversity of the plants and ingredients.