Concepts for Success: New Bakery Business Avenues

Necessity is the mother of invention.” Bakeries must adapt to changing demands right away. I know bakery owners and managers have an inexhaustible ability to innovate and find new business avenues for the upcoming months.

Since most bakery operations have no dining facilities, “Social Distancing Desserts”, “Quarantine and Regular Meal Kits”, “Home Meals Solutions,” “Stay-at-Home Happy Hour Hors D’oeuvres”, and wholesale bulk ingredients have shifted sales models.

Many bakeries are getting creative in finding ways to offer their goods and services safely. Several bakeries have come up with different menus or offerings to serve their customers better during this pandemic. Here are some top new revenue streams for bakeries in the New Year.

1. Start a home-meal program
How easy is it to make some good old fashioned soups, veggie pizzas, or some healthy vegetarian dumplings, pierogies, patties, empanadas, knishes, or samosas? You already have the dough. Nothing beats a freshly roasted vegetable soup with a slice of home-made grain bread.

Start offering baked comfort food: Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when appraising potential home meal solutions clients, and make sure to integrate favourite local ingredients into your preparations. Be unique and creative.

2. make “Bake At Home” kits
Many people are stuck at home while the stress of this pandemic continues, and simple desserts provides some level of comfort. You could offer kits that include everything your customers need to bake and decorate their favourite treats at home. Customers could buy or pick up cinnamon rolls, donuts, cupcakes, or muffins by the dozen that they could then take home, bake and decorate themselves or with their children. These kits eliminate your customers’ stress from going out to shop for ingredients. Offer Chocolate Chip Cookie Kits, Bread Starter Kits, and similar sets. Prepare some frosting bags and an assortment of sprinkles, toppings, along instructions. These are perfect for kids.

3. “heat-and-eat” meal kits
These meal kits or ready-to-eat meals arrive pre-cooked. Consisting of pasta, rice, vegetables, meat, fish, and poultry and often come with sauce or seasoning packets. Your customers will only have to heat the meals in a microwave or an oven. Some ingredients may need to be mixed, but no preparation and little to no cooking. Just heat and eat. You could sell vegan or vegetarian kits via pick up, take-out, or delivery.

4. Offer yummy frozen treats
I have seen many bakeries offering a selection of frozen treats. Your customers could quickly bake these treats at home by simply popping the batter in the oven and then decorate with the supplied frosting and sprinkles. Your options could include cookies, croissants, biscuits, and even pie or pizza dough. The dough is generally pre-portioned, boxed up, and parchment paper is included.

5. Prepare cocktail hors d’oeuvres
Nowadays, bakeries can often be where people quickly rush in and out to buy something or just pick up their orders. How about tantalizing your customers’ tastebuds with these bite-sized hors d’oeuvres treats on a tray? A lot more people are now having “happy hour” drinks at home. It’s a well-known fact that people are consuming more alcohol since the start of this pandemic outbreak. Most people eat unhealthy snacks while drinking. Why not offering an assortment of healthy, stylish hors d’oeuvres? Print some mini menu cards that you can easily put in shopping bags. How about some caramelized cauliflower tots, spinach artichoke zucchini bites, veggie dip, cucumber sushi made with red/yellow bell peppers, carrots, avocado, etc., as well as some baked bloomin’ onion, loaded stuffed potato skins, brussels sprouts sliders, and vegan antipasto skewers? You could also print some mini menu giving suggestions on pairing alcoholic drinks with your hors d’oeuvres.

6. Start bulk take-out options
Most items in your bakery’s pantry can be repurposed into unconventional take-out options. Bulk meats, cheeses, eggs, condiments, etc., can be used for omelettes, charcuterie boards, sides a la carte, special sauces, and more.

7. Sell your surplus ingredients
If you have surplus inventory, consider selling your ingredients in bulk, either to other business or directly to your customers.

You could set up a small area near and around your cash area for take-out food or shopping at your mini bakery mart.

Diane Chiasson, FCSI, president of Chiasson Consultants Inc., has been helping foodservice, hospitality and retail operators increase sales for over 35 years by providing innovative and revenue-increasing food service and retail merchandising programs, interior design, branding, menu engineering, marketing and promotional campaigns. Contact her at 416-926-1338, toll-free at 1-888-926-6655 or chiasson@chiassonconsultlants.com , or visit www.chiassonconsultants.com