{"id":28842,"date":"2025-12-17T12:41:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T12:41:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.keylink.org\/?post_type=resources_content&p=28842"},"modified":"2026-02-17T14:06:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T14:06:56","slug":"ai-trend-blog","status":"publish","type":"resources_content","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.keylink.org\/?resources_content=ai-trend-blog","title":{"rendered":"AI trend blog"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Using AI to Spot Trends in Bakery & Confectionery <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Trends come and go\u00a0at lightning\u00a0speed,\u00a0it can be difficult to keep up, let alone\u00a0identify\u00a0the ones with staying power.\u00a0When\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0busy with the day to day running of your business, taking\u00a0time out\u00a0to\u00a0do your own market research\u00a0can feel\u00a0like a waste of time \u2013 especially in December!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

But what if we told you\u00a0it\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0have to\u00a0take you hours of scrolling or\u00a0pounding\u00a0the pavement\u00a0to discover the latest, up-and-coming\u00a0trends in chocolate and bakery?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Keep reading to find out how AI can help you\u00a0spot\u00a0trends before they take off, giving you the chance to\u00a0launch new products ahead of your competitors and attract social media savvy customers\u00a0and get your brand noticed…\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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by Lyndsey Hall<\/p>

17 February 2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBrowse our Resources Hub<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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What is a Trend, and Why Should You Care? <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Unless you spent the last two years with your head in a tempering machine, you\u00a0probably heard\u00a0about the\u00a0<\/span>Dubai pistachio chocolate trend<\/span><\/a>. A combination of flavours and textures that went viral on TikTok, and spawned hundreds of variations throughout 2024 and 2025, including chocolate bars, bonbons, ice creams, cakes, desserts, and even strawberry cups. If you offered a Dubai-inspired treat, it was bound to fly out as customers scrambled to try every iteration and get their nutty <\/span>pistachio<\/span><\/a>, crispy <\/span>kadaif<\/span><\/a> and creamy <\/span>chocolate<\/span><\/a>\u00a0fix.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Trends\u00a0emerge\u00a0for a variety of reasons; there is usually no one\u00a0singular\u00a0influence that results in a\u00a0huge trend, but a combination of factors. Take\u00a0the Dubai bar for example, at the recent\u00a0<\/span>Callebaut Chocolatier\u2019s Day event<\/span><\/a>, world-leading trend forecasting agency WGSN explained what led to the explosion in popularity, and how it could be seen coming by those\u00a0in the know.\u00a0A rise in demand for sweet treats with global influences, experimental\u00a0flavours\u00a0and unexpected texture combinations coincided with a bumper pistachio crop \u2013 and the rest is history!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The Dubai trend has now begun to tail\u00a0off, and\u00a0will be replaced by the next new craze in\u00a02026.\u00a0We\u2019ve\u00a0got a few ideas of what that could be, which\u00a0we\u2019ll\u00a0share below…<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Trends aren\u2019t just about jumping on a band wagon, they’re about acknowledging a cultural moment, and if you don\u2019t anticipate or even participate in the trend then you\u2019re at risk of being left behind. Customer loyalty is incredibly rare and valuable these days, especially since the pandemic years when it became commonplace to order online and get deliveries to your door. A world of options for buying sweet treats opened up, and your high street shop is now competing with a huge number of businesses around the country instead of one or two local shops and cafes. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Looks Aren\u2019t Everything (But They Are Important!) <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Today\u2019s consumers\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0only eating your\u00a0creations,\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0photographing them, videoing them, sharing and posting about them.\u00a0Visual impact has become a purchase\u00a0driver;\u00a0a study by Barclaycard Payments found that consumers were willing to spend up to \u00a330 more on a restaurant that looks good on social media.\u00a0Customers need a good reason to travel to your bakery or chocolate shop nowadays,\u00a0and\u00a0if you can give them one then it could potentially be lucrative.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Social media natives are more likely to find your\u00a0independent\u00a0bakery\u00a0or artisan\u00a0chocolate shop from a viral social media post than by walking past your bricks and mortar store. With Gen Z on track to become the wealthiest generation in history, and their disposable income already well into the billions,\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0not a demographic you want to\u00a0miss out on\u00a0with your marketing strategy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

So, trends are no longer something you can afford to ignore. But how can you\u00a0predict upcoming trends and develop new, customer-relevant products to ensure\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0ahead of the competition?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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How To: Trendspotting for Bakers & Chocolatiers <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Identifying\u00a0and\u00a0anticipating\u00a0trends is essential to\u00a0succeeding with\u00a0them, as once\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0in the\u00a0mainstream\u00a0they\u2019ve\u00a0often hit their peak and are beginning to\u00a0decline. If you wait until your competitors have all jumped on the trend train,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0already playing catch-up instead of standing out as an early adopter (or even a trendsetter!).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Getting ahead of the game\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0have to be intimidating, there are a few top tips and tools for trendspotting that you can use to your advantage:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

  1. Trend Reports\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
  2. Social Media<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
  3. Competitor Research (AKA Taste Testing!)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
  4. AI<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

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    Trend\u00a0Reports:-<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    Trend reports are based on real customer\u00a0data and\u00a0give\u00a0an indication\u00a0of where consumer interests are shifting.\u00a0You can\u00a0often\u00a0find these free of charge\u00a0online, or\u00a0you can\u00a0invest in a report from a reputable company,\u00a0like Mintel.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    Compile\u00a0as many reports from\u00a0different sources\u00a0as\u00a0possible and\u00a0identify\u00a0where the contents overlap to\u00a0build your list of potential trends.\u00a0Then\u00a0compare against\u00a0your own customer data and choose your top three trends to focus on.\u00a0It\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0have to mean tearing up your usual menu; a\u00a0limited-edition\u00a0range is\u00a0a great way\u00a0to test your customers’ appetite for a trending\u00a0flavour.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBrowse our Resources Hub<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Social\u00a0Media:-<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    Scrolling social platforms\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0always have to be wasted\u00a0time;\u00a0it could be\u00a0valuable\u00a0market research! Instagram and TikTok are a gold mine of competitor content, customer\u00a0comments\u00a0and trending hashtags.\u00a0Dedicate an hour\u00a0each week\u00a0to browsing your\u00a0favourite\u00a0accounts, the top hashtags in your industry, and a handful of\u00a0key\u00a0competitors, and make notes on\u00a0anything you\u00a0spot that could hint at a growing trend.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    And\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0skip the comment section! Some of the most valuable insights can be hidden among the emojis.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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    Competitor\u00a0Research:-<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    Plan a day out every couple of months\u00a0to\u00a0visit your competitors\u2019 shops and cafes and see what\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0selling. Try as many\u00a0different products\u00a0as you can, jot down what you liked and\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0like about\u00a0them, and\u00a0watch the other customers\u00a0to see\u00a0what\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0buying\u00a0and enjoying.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    Make it a fun team building activity or a way\u00a0to on\u00a0board\u00a0new staff\u00a0and get them into the mindset for spotting trends out in the wild. Your team could be your best source of information when it comes to\u00a0anticipating\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0going to be the next\u00a0big thing!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    AI:-\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    You\u2019ve\u00a0asked it to write your product copy and emails,\u00a0maybe even\u00a0to\u00a0analyse\u00a0a report or build a spreadsheet. But did you\u00a0know,\u00a0AI can help you\u00a0spot\u00a0trends in your industry and generate ideas for new products that\u00a0will appeal to your customers? Your competitors are already using it, so don\u2019t be shy, ask your preferred tool\u00a0(we like ChatGPT for the ability to create custom GPTs)\u00a0to\u00a0analyse\u00a0all of your gathered data, and anything it can find online\u00a0(you may want to train it\u00a0with\u00a0some relevant website URLs\u00a0as guidance, at least to begin with). Then ask it to\u00a0identify\u00a0any trends that\u00a0appear to be\u00a0on the\u00a0rise, and\u00a0even suggest ways in which you could embrace them\u00a0with a new recipe or tweak to your existing range.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    AI can speed up the innovation process, but it is still a robot at the end of the day, so use your own knowledge and experience to filter out any wild and wonderful suggestions and\u00a0whittle the list down to two or three flavour combinations worth trialling.\u00a0Test these on your\u00a0team, and\u00a0then launch a limited edition for your customers to try. If your new product really takes off, you could even add it to your core product range!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBrowse our Resources Hub<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Keeping on top of the trends might feel intimidating and\u00a0overwhelming at first glance, but\u00a0it\u00a0really just\u00a0means\u00a0anticipating\u00a0your customers\u2019 changing needs and making their experience with you memorable and enjoyable. You can use trends to your advantage\u00a0by tweaking your usual recipes and creating exclusive, limited ranges to embrace new flavours without committing\u00a0to large volumes of new\u00a0ingredients, or\u00a0risking the tide turning on the trend just when\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0made a big order of products.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

    In our next blog, we’ll take a look at the trends we are expecting to see big things from in 2026, keep an eye out in the New Year! And in the meantime, use all the tools at your disposal to gather information and plan your trend-led product launches, and\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0forget to tag us on social media when you launch a new product!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    Lyndsey is a marketing executive, writer and lover of books and chocolate from Sheffield.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

    Her favourite bake is a gooey<\/strong> chocolate brownie<\/strong>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Using AI to Spot Trends in Bakery & Confectionery Trends come and go\u00a0at lightning\u00a0speed,\u00a0it can be difficult to keep up, let alone\u00a0identify\u00a0the ones with staying power.\u00a0When\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0busy with the day to day running of your business, taking\u00a0time out\u00a0to\u00a0do your own market research\u00a0can feel\u00a0like a waste of time \u2013 especially in December!\u00a0 But what if we told […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-28842","resources_content","type-resources_content","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.keylink.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/resources_content\/28842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.keylink.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/resources_content"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.keylink.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/resources_content"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.keylink.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/resources_content\/28842\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30298,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.keylink.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/resources_content\/28842\/revisions\/30298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.keylink.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2F&parent=28842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}