I Have Food Love.

I LOVE this! I think I may have mentioned www.stumbleupon.com before. It’s a kind of a search engine. You and search for pretty much anything and it shows you related content. Lots of recipes, quotes, funny things, all those horrible forwards that go round and round. Anyway, the more you search the more it learns about you and sends you recommendations for what it thinks you would like. Mine sends me lots of food…I better not read too much into that. I just opened an e-mail from earlier this week and found the most delicious looking breakfast idea. If you recall, we have mentioned that breakfast is a huge day part opportunity right now. People want quick easy options, healthy, something they can eat on the run, or without getting too messy. I think this may be a fantastic answer to that! AND the really good news…I’m fairly certain you can guess where you can get a mix or base or sour to help you out….that’s right. Abel & Schafer. So, it calls for a sourdough demi. That means you either need an actual pre-made sour to add to what you are doing now, or a complete mix or just a sourdough bread base. We have it all. I don’t know if you remember, I’ve certainly told you if I was your sales person, but our sours are naturally derived. That’s why they taste better than those from other companies. They aren’t chemically manufactured. The flavor is honest and it comes in liquid or dry, wheat or rye. We also have dry mixes and bases that make your life even easier! That's what we are here for. Someone try this and let me know how it goes!

Trends...On my way to follow a link to an article about 2012 bakery specific trends, I ended up with a dead link and being redirected to the Modern Baking website homepage. The first thing that caught my eye had to do with trends, so I went there. Finally! It seems that consumers are beginning to avoid once trendy claims like "diet" and and "low calorie", and instead looking for more positive messages like "healthy" and "smart". While it isn't likely less people trying to lose weight, hopefully, more people are trying to be smarter about it.

The good news for bakers is that means that healthy breads are no longer taboo because of carbs, but appreciated for their heart benefits. Treats in moderation, whole grain pastries or high fiber breads could be a huge hit for the spring and a welcome relief to customers! ABEL & SCHAFER offers a huge line of whole grain breads, pastries and healthy bakery ideas. You all know our Choice Six Grain (21020), that contains omega healthy flax and whole grains, but maybe it's time to shake things up a bit with customers, come on! Try something new! With our home base in Germany and facilities around the world, you know Abel & Schafer knows how to do fantastic European Breads. Pick one and just try it. Maybe Korn Duo Bread (01039) a Pumpernickel-like whole grain German black bread that contains meals, cracked grains, malt & natural rye sour is something your customers don't even know they love! Or you could try Pan D'Oro (21038) a semolina bread that is golden and chewy, has authentic flavor and a great shelf life. Sample a few loaves, slice off a piece for your customers and send them out the door with it without them asking for it. Get them hooked on real bread not it's a wonder they even call it bread, and open their eyes to the wonderful world of fresh baked bread!