The culinary outlet Bon Appétit declared that we’re currently in a bagel boom—one that shows no signs of slowing down.

Bagels are not just a famous New York food. They have become extremely popular nationwide, and many people are opening shops all over the country. The market generated $5.58 billion in 2024 and analysts expect it to reach $7.35 billion by 2030.

If you own a bakery, cafe, or food business, this revival is a chance to attract new customers. You just need the right bagel equipment.

We’ll dig into what’s behind the bagel comeback, the trends shaping it, and how the right bagel equipment can help you keep up.

What’s Driving the Bagel Resurgence?

One reason bagels are dominating food trends is that people are experimenting more with the form. Instead of adhering to traditional New York-style bagels, more places are playing with regional styles and having fun with toppings and flavor combinations.

For example, PopUp Bagels, a Connecticut bagel business founded in 2020 and popularized on TikTok, serves bagels with cream cheese on the side. People are encouraged to rip and dip, and the brand plays with schmear flavors like brown sugar, truffle butter, and salted maple banana bread.

If you’re still not convinced, PopUp announced earlier this year that it plans to open 300 locations across the United States over the next four years.

Bagels have also been uniquely poised to match the changing eating habits of people post-COVID. While people are prioritizing speed and quick service over sit-down restaurants, they still crave artisanal goods and want food that feels handmade.

The Equipment You Need To Jump All In On Bagels

Another reason bagel spots have been popping up all over the place is that, while nailing down a great recipe can take hours of research and development, bagels are relatively easy to incorporate into the flow of a bakery or a restaurant, so long as you have the right bagel equipment.

bagel divider

Here are some of the bagel equipment tools we think can help you take the leap into bagel production:

  • A bagel divider former: Forming bagels can take hours, but a divider and former can make up to 3,000 consistently sized bagels per hour. You can play with size, from small mini-bagels to oversized ones.
  • A bagel kettle and hood: One characteristic of bagels is that they’re often boiled before baking. Our bagel kettle can handle up to 4,000 bagels per hour—the hood ensures that steam has somewhere to go and kitchens stay in compliance.
  • A revolving tray oven: Revolving trays mean each bagel cooks evenly and has a consistent crust. Empire’s revolving tray oven has an integrated kettle and trough for traditional bagel boiling or steaming.
  • Other key gear: We also recommend tools like dough mixers, proofers, and cooling racks—many bakeries have these, but for those new to the baking game, they’re part of building a successful bagel business.

You don’t need all this equipment to get started—many of the businesses and shops that spurred the bagel renaissance started in small kitchens and with minimal tools.

But for bakeries hoping to grow and create demand, tools like a bagel divider/former can help you quickly scale production, maintain quality, minimize inconsistencies, and keep costs down.

Now That You Have The Bagel Equipment, What Next?

So much of the bagel resurgence is about capturing how people eat now: consumers are driven by social media trends, limited runs of exclusive flavors, and food with a story.

Here are a few things to consider when launching a bagel program:

  • Master your workflow: Adding bagels to the mix isn’t just about adding a new pastry item to the menu. Unlike other baked goods, bagels are often served with cream cheese or other toppings, so you might need to refine your ordering systems or cross-train staff to make and prepare bagels for customers.
  • Create excitement: People like feeling like they’re getting something exclusive, so feel free to experiment with small, test batches and try things out with your most loyal customers. Allow demand to build slowly.
  • Marketing is key: Because bagels are so ubiquitous, find a way to make yours stand out. Can you signal to customers that your bagels are made in-house? Can you offer unexpected flavors or toppings? What makes your bagels special and unique?
  • Let people know: As we mentioned above, social media is a massive player in how people eat, but it must be authentic. Don’t just copy what you see on others’ pages—find a way to communicate with your customers that feels true to you. If that’s doing exclusive drops only announced on your Instagram, go for it. If it’s through beautifully curated photos and an IG grid filled with just bagels, then invest your time and resources here.

The Bagel Era Is Here—All You Need Is The Right Equipment To Join

Bagels are trending in 2025 thanks to customization and creative reinvention. Joining in on the bagel mania—and doing so profitably—requires the right equipment.

If you’re ready to join the bagel game, check out Empire Bakery’s lineup of bagel equipment—like our bagel divider formers, kettles and hoods, and revolving tray ovens.