Japanese Milk Bread Craze Sweeps Across United Kingdom Bakeries
An artisanal Japanese baking staple is taking British bakeries and social media feeds by storm as high demand drives premium prices.
By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Food Prices
Key points
- Japanese milk bread, or shokupan, is experiencing a massive popularity surge across the United Kingdom driven by viral social media exposure.
- The bread relies on the tangzhong technique, a pre-cooked flour paste method that locks in moisture and creates an exceptionally soft, pillowy texture.
- Commercial bakeries are enjoying high profit margins on shokupan despite longer production times and higher labor demands.
- Mainstream grocery chains and casual dining restaurants are rapidly adopting milk bread for packaged retail products and premium sandwich offerings.
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Sources and methodology
Reported from the public datasets below.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Consumer Price Index, food away from home
- Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) - Food services and drinking places series
- U.S. Census Bureau - Monthly Retail Trade, food services
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Consumer Price Index, food away from home
- Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) - Food services and drinking places series
- U.S. Census Bureau - Monthly Retail Trade, food services
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