NEW YORK — The U.S. fresh baked goods market grew 4% in 2009 reaching $16 billion, the result of consumer interest in healthy eating, artisan foods and “localism,” according to market researcher Packaged Facts. In addition, the market is expected to exceed $20 billion by 2014, Packaged Facts said in its new report “Fresh Baked Goods in the U.S.”

“Although fresh baked goods are produced and sold in a wide variety of retail channels, certain overriding trends have affected how these products are marketed across most channels,” said Don Montuori, publisher of Packaged Facts. “For example, consumer demand for specific kinds of products — such as those that fill specific dietary needs or budgetary concerns — has led retailers to adapt in terms of both product offerings and marketing strategies. In the fresh baked goods market, those bakeries that have managed to succeed in this challenging environment have done so by evaluating and quickly responding to these shifts in consumer demand with products that fulfill a variety of consumer needs and wants.”

Total fresh baked goods sales grew in the 2% to 4% range during the 2005-2009 period except in 2008, when the market grew almost 6%. Fresh baked goods sales from in-store bakeries had similar growth in the 2% to 5% range reaching $11 billion in 2010.