Bakers Delight

History

Bakers Delight was founded by current CEOs Roger and Lesley Gillespie. Originally they had established a store in the Victorian suburb of Ashburton in 1975 under the name of Old Style Bread Centre. However this business was sold (and later became Brumby's Bakerys, a rival to Bakers Delight).

Bakers Delight was established as a single bakery in Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn in 1980. The name Bakers Delight originated from the belief that every baker should be delighted by the bread they produce.

The company largely produces bread and other products traditionally produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef. It is a strict policy that franchisees are not allowed to sell pies, sausage rolls and other like products. It was also forbidden to sell drinks of any kind, but in mid-2005 Australian stores were allowed to sell drinks distributed by Coca-Cola such as fruit juices and Mount Franklin water, and soft drinks.

Whilst some franchisees lament this tight control of what can be sold, the business model used has been a largely successful one. Bakers Delight is the biggest chain of bakeries in Australian and New Zealand.

Recent events

The company proclaims to be a good corporate citizen on its website although control of some of its franchisees is weak with respect to employment conditions and price controls. One of its franchisees in South Australia was recently caught out trying to register employment documents which paid 25% less then the relevant Award. A store at Upper Mount Gravatt's Westfield Garden City Shopping Centre in Brisbane regularly sells bread on special at the end of the trading day, in direct contravention of the franchising model.

Bakers Delight has been awarded the Franchise Council of Australia’s Franchise of the Year award in both 2001 and 2002 with the husband and wife team of Roger and Lesley Gillespie viewed as pioneers in the franchising sector.

In 2005 Bakers Delight was presented with the Australian Retail Awards Victoria (ARAV) Presidents Award, for their ongoing positive contribution to the retail industry, as voted by their peers in the retail sector. Bakers Delight has been selected as one of the 6 finalists for 'Australian Franchisor of the Year' 2005.

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