Want A Muffin? So Does Everyone Else
For office workers and many others, lunchtime means heading to the local supermarket, coffee shop or cafe for something to eat. There, you can buy savoury products, hot and cold drinks and sweet treats for afters. Sweet products are most commonly bought by people experiencing a bad day. A muffin is often the treat of choice to accompany a coffee or as a dessert. This is because they are easy to eat, do not need heating up and come in a number of flavours.
Development of muffins has led to it being reclassified as a gourmet snack when produced with good quality ingredients. The expansion of gourmet coffee shops like Starbucks has led to this in part. Luxury ingredients like Belgian chocolate chips and the freshest fruits are used so that even discerning eaters are tempted to nibble on the top of a muffin.
Sweet treats are no longer just for those who aren’t on a diet, now people watching their weight can indulge in a ‘skinny muffin’ of lemon, blueberry and many other flavours. Coffee houses are not losing money by driving away those on a diet whilst the customers feel like they are eating something tasty yet healthy.
There has also been a revolution in the shape of muffins and this has had an impact on consumer attitude towards muffins. When first sold in coffee houses and shops, muffins were relatively small and evenly shaped. Then, the top of the muffin became the most prized section and manufacturers began to bake them so that the top was larger than the bottom. This is where the term ‘muffin top’ came from which we use to describe stomachs that are being squeezed over tight trousers.
The flower-pot muffin is the newest shape to hit the shelves. The new shape is a little smaller than the large-topped muffins, this is because people are more health conscious and are less likely than before to eat a huge portion of muffin. The name flower-pot comes from the fine paper that surrounds the bottom of the muffin.
There can be major profits made by selling muffins in coffee houses and shops, and now pubs are getting in on the action by offering their customers muffins as a sweet alternative to the more traditional savoury snacks usually found in pubs.
Tags: desserts, food service, frozen food supply, muffin, muffins, sweets