I was reading this article that said that cake is becoming less popular at weddings and that the "modern bride" preferrs other deserts over cake.
How many of you fear that one day cake won't be much of a demand?
That other desserts will replace cake at weddings and that Timmy will opt to have a popsicle sculpture for his 10th instead of the Spiderman cake he saw at Tommy's?
The bottom line question. . .
Is the cake business going out of business?
It goes in cycles just like fashion. One year it's all buttercream n white cake, next it's fondant and funky fruit flavors, next it's cheesecake, so on and so on. It just matters that us as bakers can adapt to the "fashion" at hand. Where I live it's like usually two years behind the current trends in like New York or Los Angeles. So fondant hasn't caught on here yet. But bc n white cakes are big and there will always be people who want "tradition" over fashion anyday.
I don't see the cake business disappearing. If you feel it is especially popular now and might be less popular in the future, well, that certainly might happen. But, it will go up and down like most businesses. And why not broaden the base products to include other, and now popular, desserts? Look at what can be done with cheesecake, and in the past we felt all you could do was put some fruit on it. Plus, there will be new decorators willing to try new ideas that will always push the envelope.
I'm fairly new to all this but IMHO I'd say it's just a phase. It seems that everyone is a bit too health consience(sp) right now. All the obesity reports and such; but a wedding cake is a "tradition" they have a tendency to die a little harder. Even if the celebs start cutting out the cake for a while it will pass. There are too many people out there who still hold true to traditions to let it go forever. It may get tough on us for a bit but I even doubt that....you have to remember that the "other desserts" when/if they become popular will also become pricy! Cake would make a serious comeback!
That's what I'm hoping anyway 
Speaking of celebs, I think high profile stars continuing to have traditional wedding cakes could influence some younger brides to keep with tradition. Thanks TomKat!
IMHO Cake takes you back to childhood, and people wanting that feeling never goes away! The media is always trying to find something new and 'interesting' to write about, even if half of it is total crap. How else could they sell those mags?
My last thought, even in the Depression neighbors pooled what little they had so that a cake could be baked for a wedding. I don't see that ever going away.
good cake decorators are a dying breed...
people who can do special things are usually worked to death.
i been noticing many just go on to teaching....like doesn't earlene moore only do classes these days?
I think it is both the fashion and health. If people would give up fast food they could enjoy more cake! Since I started cake decorating I lost 20lbs. (started weight watchers at the same time). I eat my cake if I want it but steer clear of things that I could live without. With the crowd on this site I do not think we are in any danger of cake ever completly going out of style. I don't know about your areas but it seems like down here that people are turning back to home for cakes and crafts and such. Thank goodness!
I do know cake shops go out of business. In my area they open and go out of business regularly. Most don't get past the 1st year. But I can't imagine a wedding without cake.
Like someone else said the cake may be different from what we now know it but we will always be able to adapt. Got to this is how I feed my family and... eat out every nite!
I started cakes in 1976 and they have changed since then! I am so glad for the trendy styles.
Lora
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%