Consumers going with whole grains

Cindy Gershen, a bakery, cafe and fast-casual restaurant owner, takes a phrase from her kids to describe what's happened to the low-carbohydrate diet craze: ''It's so 10 minutes ago.'' Many bread-related businesses like Gershen's took a hit a few years ago when low-carbohydrate diets spoiled some consumers' appetite for baked goods. Now, low-carb living has taken a dive and consumers are coming back to carbs in a different way: whole grains. For example, Panera Bread Co., a St. Louis-based fast-casual chain of bakery cafes, a few years ago introduced a line of low-carb bagels and breads to address the diet craze, but has since reduced the selection from about five products to two. Panera has started selling a bread with 16 grams of whole grains per serving. And several other retailers have followed suit, making whole-grain bread varieties easier to find. Read More...