Bread is the most widely-eaten food in the world. It is a staple food served and consumed in almost all households every single day especially in Western countries such as in Europe and the United States. It’s no different in the Philippines. Here, the top five most commonly consumed foods are rice, salt, cooking oil, coffee and bread, according to a food consumption survey by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST). Here the Pandesal stands as the unofficial king of pastries, alongside iconic variants like pan de regla, ensaymada, pita, and the mamon. But bread not only fills our tummies, but also gives us the nutrients our bodies need. Furthermore, bread is an essential source of carbohydrates aside from other starchy food such as pasta, rice, potatoes, breakfast cereals and other grains like rye and barley. Beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, and corn are carbohydrates, too. All these provide fuel for the brain and energy for a person to function properly throughout the day. By combining together a dough of flour and water, a baker could have a very tasty creation; crispy on the outside that would make someone lick lips, fluffy and soft in the inside that would melt on the tongue. And don’t forget the inviting aroma of freshly-baked goods and pastries wafting along the street when you pass by cafés starting to open their businesses, as you stroll around and drink your joyous cup of morning coffee. Filipinos have a penchant for breads. Like rice, these baked goods are a staple fare in the local dining table, and are typically consumed for breakfast or as a snack. From the well-loved pandesal, Filipinos have grown to like different variety of breads — from the usual sweet variants that satisfy their sweet tooth cravings to savory ones. This fondness for baked treats opened opportunities for entrepreneurs to build business, innovate, and explore the endless possibilities in baking. Those involved in the baking business have noted that it is a rewarding and a profitable venture. They further pointed out that baked products are sure sellers because everyone practically eats bread, and it is almost always the choice as a convenient, on-the-go food. With the increase in number of businesses engaged in baking, Filipinos not only get their supply of bread from neighborhood bakeries, but also in other accessible establishments like malls, supermarkets, and train stations. Philippine Statistics Authority stated in a 2013 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry released in 2016 that bread, cakes, pastries, pies and similar ‘perishable’ bakery products accounted for 6,618 establishments or 26.3% of the total 25,149 number of manufacturing establishments in the formal sector of the economy. The baking business in the country has also went through various transformations — from the technologies used in baking to the new flavors introduced by foreign players who have established their presence in the country. As what market research firm Euromonitor International stated, innovation remains vital for baked goods companies to address the need of consumers for variety We Filipinos love our carbs and if there’s anything we can’t live without – apart from rice, of course – it’s bread. If you think about it, bread is a convenient and delicious staple for the average Filipino home. As of the moment there is only one bakery existing within the neighborhood and it offers only a limited options of bread at limited number of pieces. And with that the association has decided to venture into bakery. In this way, they will be having income, creating jobs and at the same time giving satisfaction to the consumers. The bakery venture is a very adaptable and scalable market. Armed with commitment, dedication, and hard work, there’s no doubt that the chosen livelihood will be sustainable. Marketing Plan Our marketing strategy includes digital marketing, using platforms like Instagram and Facebook to promote our products and engage with customers. Delightful Bakes will also join local events and build relationships with local businesses for cross-promotion. Additionally, our loyalty program includes perks and discounts for regular customers, which aims to boost retention. Logistics and Operations Plan Delightful Bakes’ ingredients are sourced from trusted local suppliers. We bake daily to ensure freshness. In addition, friendly staff members manage the sales counter and the kitchen staff follows high standards of cleanliness. We also follow all local health and safety regulations while prioritizing efficiency and sustainability in our operations. Sustainable and Steady Market A bakery is one of those evergreen businesses, which attract customers of all ages throughout the year regardless of the season. Nutritious and equally tasty baked food is one of the best ways of relieving your appetite. Whether you are starting your day or going back home after work, you will stop by a bakery to treat yourself to delicious foods. Once you master the art of good taste and ensure better quality, you can build a loyal customer base for your business. How is the bakery market in the Philippines? The bakery market in the Philippines is in great need of competent bakers. With more and more people eating out, the demand for bread and other baked goods rises. The people of the Philippines love to indulge in bread, cakes, pastries, and other baked goods. Because of this, the bakery market will continuously grow over the next several years. Thus, it is a great time to start a bakery business now before it becomes too late. What are the pros and cons of starting a bakery in the Philippines? Pros: 1. Filipinos love bread, pastries, and other baked goods. As such, the demand for these baked goods will continue to grow. 2. People prefer buying convenience foods. And Filipinos highly value convenience, and this is why many people are willing to pay more for convenience baked goods. The working and middle class still value time, and they are willing to pay more for their convenience foods. 3. The primary demand for bread is never-ending. Bread is one of the essential foods that Filipinos enjoy eating. As a result, the market for bread in the Philippines will never be stagnant. Cons: 1. Businesses are uncertain, and it is hard to know the real future of bakery industry in the Philippines. For sure, the bakery business will continue to thrive and at the same it can be very competitive. Therefore, you will always have to try your best to outdo your competitors. 2. You will spend a lot of time perfecting your baking skills. Since the bakery industry is thriving in the Philippines, you will have to work hard to keep up with your competitors. As a result, you will have to spend a lot of time in your kitchen perfecting your baked goodies. 3. It would be best to plan out your bakery business before starting it. Planning will also help streamline your business and prevent you from wasting money on things that won’t benefit your bakery. Read on to know more about starting a bakery business in the Philippines. Step 12: Innovation and marketing. To be successful in your bakery business, you will have to consistently come up with innovative products, and you will also have to be very active with your marketing campaign. Marketing strategies will enable you to raise your brand awareness. However, when you are marketing a bakery business in the Philippines, you must do your market research. It would be best if you also consider using social media and e- marketing to promote your products. Social media will enable you to communicate with your target market easily. What Can I Do To Promote My Bakery Business? You can promote your bakery business through your website and social media. Your customers will usually use the internet to research and evaluate goods. By setting up a website and maintaining a social media presence, you will be able to reach out to more people and market yourself easily. In addition, you can promote your bakery business through sampling and advertising, among other methods. You must be very active with your marketing campaign to deliver significant value to your customers and potential clients. What are the profit margins for a bakery business in the Philippines? The profit margins for a bakery business are typically moderate, around 25% to 50% gross margin. However, if you can manage your costs effectively and if you can manage to find suitable suppliers, then there are undoubtedly high-profit margins in this industry. How to Promote Your Bakery So, how do you promote your bakery? Sometimes, your bakery business needs a small dose of marketing to ensure that the delicious lingering smell of baked goods reaches the target customers! Like you’re creative with your baked goods, you’ll also find crafty ways to entice and retain more customers. Your customers might be more attracted to online platforms, or they might respond well to discounts. Promotion and marketing can help ensure that the customers keep flowing in and your bakery is under the spotlight. From offering free samples and discounts to hosting community events and engaging on social media – promotion ideas for bakeries are pretty diverse. Without wasting further time, let’s whip into the perfect promotion recipe for your bakery business! Start a Loyalty Program As a business owner, you shouldn’t undermine the benefits of having a loyalty program. A loyalty program helps promote word-of-mouth marketing that can boost brand recognition. Moreover, developing and introducing a loyalty program is not very difficult. You can begin by deciding what you’ll offer regarding the loyalty rewards. For instance, you can provide free doughnuts, a free cup of coffee, or complimentary cookies. Next, you’ll need to determine how customers stack up to those rewards. For instance, customers can receive one loyalty point for every $1 they spend. “Baked Product of the Day” You can pick a baked product from your menu each day or make a holiday cake like valentine’s cake and feature it as the “Baked Product of the Day.” Any of your customers who visits your store will receive a discount on the specified “Baked Product of the Day” item. At the same time, you can offer a discount of 10% on the item or give them away for a flat reduced rate. Additionally, you can also try this little marketing trick for products that sell lesser than others. This marketing strategy will increase your loyal buyers’ frequency and bring in new ones. ost Couple Baking Sessions These days, many couples look for bonding moments over a cooking or baking session. You can offer a couple of baking sessions to bring in new customers. Devise a couple of baking sessions that provide the duos with an off-beat date experience to bake a treat together. You can hold such couple sessions as Valentine’s Day scheme as well. These sessions will attract more people to your business, increase engagement and establish you as a pro in the baking field. Make sure to pick simple yet tasty recipes for couples that they can easily prepare and enjoy! Offer Discounts on Your Baked Goods If you want to make your dream of being the top bakery “crumb” proper, discounts are a no-brainer for your promotion plan. Discounts and promos are some of the most conventional marketing techniques. Depending on your goals, there are several ways you can use discounts and promos. You can put up weekly promotions where selective goods of your bakery are up for buy one get one free. Similarly, you can offer special discounts on specific days for school kids, college students, senior citizens, or workers. You will also notice that many bakeries offer promotions for customers who check in to their bakeries from social media accounts. It’s best to give them an offer that they find too good to leave! Highlight the Positive Reviews Do you know that most customers find it easy to trust a business that has more positive reviews? So, do you plan on hiding those positive reviews in a safe box forever? One of the best tactics to promote a bakery involves showing off those positive reviews to your potential customers. These positive reviews from loyal customers are a testament to your baked products’ exceptional and delicious taste and high quality. Here are a few ways to collect and display your reviews online: Develop a Google My Business Page Claim your Yelp page and keep it up-to-date Post customer testimonials and reviews on social media platforms Hold Community and Local Events A local community or professional event can give you several business opportunities. These events allow you to interact and network with new customers and fellow bakery owners. You can build your brand and product awareness by sponsoring or organizing events. You can also hold regular baking workshops. Yes, you heard it right. You can give back to the local community by helping the audience learn and adopt baking skills. Through these events, you can strengthen relationships with your customers. What’s more, holding workshops also give the people a glimpse of how you do things around the bakery! How Important are Hashtags for Bakery Promotion? Many old-school bakeries dismiss the idea of new-generation promotion techniques such as social media and hashtags. You might not be aware, but hashtags are the cream of the crop of social media marketing for bakeries. By incorporating the most relevant hashtags on your social media promotion plan, you can make sure your post reaches the right audience. You have to use a mix of brand, local, and trending hashtags to get spotted by your hungry target buyers. Posts with hashtags tend to outperform the content of local competitions. So, you’re cooking up a social media promotion plan, make sure to include hashtags.