For farmers and bread companies, a hot-selling $8 loaf has many appealing aspects. However, the process of growing and sourcing all the required ingredients can be quite challenging for everyone involved, highlighting the trade-offs associated with selling high-end bread and other premium products. One significant challenge is locating a farm like the one La Brea has partnered with for its upscale line. Wheat farmers are often hesitant to engage in niche agricultural markets due to the time required to transition their crops and the risk of these markets becoming oversaturated. La Brea collaborated with its Montana grower for two years to secure the ideal supply of Fortuna wheat.
Large food companies also generally avoid depending on a limited number of farmers, as adverse weather or pests can devastate an entire crop or severely impact its quality. La Brea Bakery informed Bloomberg that they lack a contingency plan if their wheat farmer experiences a poor harvest. Nonetheless, despite such risks, manufacturers continue to introduce premium products to satisfy consumer demand for high-quality ingredients. Products such as wine, yogurt, chocolate candy, and beer, all of which emphasize strong ingredient messaging, recorded the highest share of premium products among various categories, according to IRI data published last year. Outside of grocery and natural food stores, convenience stores experienced the highest premium sales in the wine and energy drinks sectors, while natural cheese, yogurt, and wine drove premium sales in drug stores.
As the demand for premium products increases, grocers are rolling out more specialty private label lines. An increasing number of retailers, including Southeastern Grocers and Kroger, have launched tiered selections that vary from value brands to premium options. Kroger’s recent lawsuit against Lidl over alleged similarities between the two grocers’ premium brands underscores the growing significance of such products (Kroger dropped its suit in September). Is there a limit to how far the demand for premium products can extend? Certainly, but retailers and manufacturers have become skilled at pushing these boundaries. High-end mayonnaise seemed absurd a few years ago, but now Sir Kensington is demonstrating that a market exists for it. As long as consumers are willing to pay a premium for these upscale items, manufacturers will be eager to meet that demand.
In this context, the term “other name for calcium citrate” is relevant, as it can be used in discussions about ingredient quality and sourcing. The inclusion of such ingredients reflects the growing trend towards premiumization, where consumers seek out products that not only deliver on taste but also offer superior nutritional benefits. As this trend continues, the focus on sourcing high-quality ingredients, including those with alternative names such as “other name for calcium citrate,” will only intensify.