It’s more important now than ever to maximize your food cost when scheduling what to bake daily. Leftover product in your display case at the end of the day is simply money down the drain. Here are a couple of tips to help get every cent out of your ingredients budget.
SMALL BAKE SIZE
Instead of baking once in the morning and making the product last all day, consider reducing the size of your bakes and baking more often. This easy step accomplishes a couple of important profit-centered goals: 1) Your customers will love product that’s super fresh, so they’ll keep coming back to your store; 2) Simply “build to” product that seems to be popular that day avoiding waste and “talking to” your customers; and 3) There’s nothing better than warm, fresh baked goods, and nothing sounds better to a customer than “Our cinnamon rolls are so fresh they’re still warm.” A GREAT opportunity for suggestive selling
INVENTORY YOUR DISPLAY CASE FREQUENTLY
Small bakes allow you to adjust your display case as the day progresses. Don’t try to force YOUR bake schedule to your customers. Keep track of what they’re buying each day, and adjust your bakes accordingly to what THEY are buying. At the end of the day, take note of what products are left over and make fewer of that product the next day. Continually target your bakes, and see how it goes from day-to-day.
THROW OUT TRADITION – THIS YEAR ONLY!!
Baking for customary buying habits has changed. As you know, there are no youth sports leagues. No PTA meetings. No class field trips. Fewer and fewer business meetings in conference rooms. No bowling leagues. SO … you’re now baking for individuals, families, and small groups. Target your bake schedule for this new (hopefully temporary) reality.
It’s a proud time to be in the baking industry and supporting the health and well-being of our customers during this crisis. Talk to your BakeMark Representative about point-of-sale materials that convey your store’s ability to deliver fresh product throughout the day. Stay safe, and let’s get through this together. Always remember: BakeMark is here to help.
