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Most Italian bakeries display their cannolis on shelves without the filling then offer specific crèmes as a filling once the customer places the order - such as Ricotta, Italian crème or a chocolate crème. This way, the product will have a dry, crunchy exterior with a soft interior. A key to a good cannoli is filling it to order so it stays crisp to the bite.

To enhance the look, you can dip the ends in chocolate or nuts to give a heightened appearance.

Yes, breakfast is one of the fastest growing segments for chain restaurants and convenience stores in particular. The morning has typically been a retail bakery’s specialty, but bakeries need to develop strategies to improve business in this highly competitive day-part. With all day-parts people are in a rush, but this tends to be even more of an issue in the mornings. Make a stop in your bakery a welcome convenience for them. If you have heavy commuter traffic, you might dedicate a cashier station specifically for folks buying coffee and a baked good. Breakfast bakery products should be easy to eat in the car or on-the-go. Bundle breakfast combinations together as convenient “meal deals.” And, don’t forget to offer some self service displays of packaged products, like a dozen donuts, coffeecake or cookies, which they can bring back to share with the office.Yes, breakfast is one of the fastest growing segments for chain restaurants and convenience stores in particular. The morning has typically been a retail bakery’s specialty, but bakeries need to develop strategies to improve business in this highly competitive day-part. With all day-parts people are in a rush, but this tends to be even more of an issue in the mornings. Make a stop in your bakery a welcome convenience for them. If you have heavy commuter traffic, you might dedicate a cashier station specifically for folks buying coffee and a baked good. Breakfast bakery products should be easy to eat in the car or on-the-go. Bundle breakfast combinations together as convenient “meal deals.” And, don’t forget to offer some self service displays of packaged products, like a dozen donuts, coffeecake or cookies, which they can bring back to share with the office.

Eating better is on the radar for most of your customers these days. How they act on their intentions may be a different story. But one thing is for sure, Americans are label readers and are looking for more healthful options. That’s not to say they still don’t want to treat themselves, but they might choose a smaller portion size or a product with more natural ingredients. Whatever you offer to fill this healthy niche must taste good. There are way too many other tasty, healthful food options out there for consumers to waste calories and money on a gummy low-fat muffin.

In-store bakeries definitely have the advantage when it comes to convenience and accessibility. Many people today have grown up with bakeries in their supermarkets and may have never been to a retail bakery. By shopping in-store bakeries, consumers have come to expect self-service displays, a wide variety of bakery products and lower prices. Where they typically lack is at their service counters and their often “cookie cutter” approach to product lines. Independent retail bakeries can take a cue from the in-stores’ merchandising techniques, but focus more efforts on training friendly, knowledgeable service staff (not just order takers) and maintaining high-quality products. Consumers still prefer retail bakeries for the personal shopping experience and more specialized products.

Inconvenient service and messy retail areas. People don’t have time to stand in line and wait for a number. The approach in a retail bakery today should be like someone’s coming to your home. Your shop is like your house: it needs to be clean, Internet friendly and offer a place to sit.