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franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
or Darshana and Nilupa Weerakoon the journey towards owning their
Bakers Delight franchise business has been a dream come true. It’s
one that began half-way around the world, in Dubai, where Darshana
was a pastry chef and Nilupa worked in a hotel front office.
After a close friend of Darshana’s - a baker at Bakers Delight in Mount
Maunganui - informed him of a vacancy at the store, and with assistance
from owner Bruce Ingram, the couple flew to New Zealand in June 2007
to take up the employment opportunity.
“I started as one of the front-of-house staff,” recalls Nilupa, “while
Darshana continued his passion for baking.”
The couple approached their roles with dedication, treating the business
as if it was their own. “We weren’t just employees,” remembers Nilupa,
“we were so eager to learn.”
The franchise presented them with new lessons every day, she says.
“It allowed us to absorb everything we could about the company’s
operations, standards and values.”
Little did they know that they would soon be able to purchase their very
own Bakers Delight.
A giant leap forward
Darshana and Nilupa’s hard work and passion for the business did not
go unnoticed. And when the opportunity to purchase the Bakers Delight
franchise in Hamilton East arose in early 2011, the couple believed it was
the ideal path for their future.
“When starting any traditional business from scratch it takes time to
build your brand and customer base,” explains Nilupa. “But when you
open a franchise with a recognised brand people automatically know
what your business is all about, what you provide and what they can
expect. Also, it has a lower failure rate.”
Being able to optimise the network for competitive pricing is
another plus, she says, and being your own boss enables a good
work-life balance.
Darshana and Nilupa knew that making the transition from staff
members to business owners would be both challenging and rewarding.
It was the trust, support and training from the franchise that helped them
achieve success, they say.
The couple has learned that running a business like Bakers Delight
has some challenges, including maintaining brand consistency and
keeping an eye on competition. Nevertheless, they enjoy their rewarding
interactions with the local community and schools, and love to get
involved in events. They say they now have full confidence in the security
of their future in the country they have been grateful to settle in.
Excellent training and support
From day one, Darshana and Nilupa say they were impressed by the level
of training provided.
“The technical baker hosts a monthly masterclass to improve the skills of
our bakers,” explains Nilupa. “Our sales team also receives core classes
on product knowledge, customer service and merchandising, while the
support team regularly catches up with us through one-on-one meetings
and group online trainings, as well as in-person conferences.
“If we need help during busy times, such as Easter, it arrives without
any hesitation. And the franchise doesn’t just provide advice, they work
together with us to achieve our goals.”
High achievers and
award winners
A recent refurbishment of their
Hamilton East bakery sits high
on Darshana and Nilupa’s list of
achievements. “This investment
not only revitalised the customer
experience but also resulted in a
significant and consistent 26%
average increase in sales since
reopening,” says Nilupa.
“Our fresh, modern environment has attracted new customers and
delighted our regular customers, demonstrating the importance of
continually evolving to meet customer expectations.”
Another major achievement was winning the Franchisee of the Year
award at the recent Bakers Delight New Zealand annual conference.
With judging criteria including internal operational scores; community
engagement via local store marketing; increased store profitability
(turnover & operating profit), and excellence in merchandising
standards, the couple’s win not only reflects their commitment to
maintaining high standards, but also serves as recognition of the efforts
and passion of their team members.
Cause for more optimism
Becoming a million-dollar bakery in the 2023/24 financial year has been
the icing on the cake for Darshana and Nilupa. Over the past six months,
they’ve seen consistent transaction growth, saying this is a clear
indicator of their increasing customer base and loyalty.
“We have also excelled in customer retention,” says Nilupa,
“significantly surpassing our industry benchmark of 35.5% for
repeat customers.”
Revenue for the same period is up 54%, which the couple attribute
to both the demand for their fresh products, as well as their ability to
successfully attract and retain customers. The major goal is now to boost
annual turnover to $1.56 million and, eventually, own another Bakers
Delight store in Hamilton.
Do you have passion baked in?
If you have a passion for baking and you want to start your own business,
Bakers Delight is an excellent franchise to be part of, Darshana and
Nilupa say.
“Follow the system and you will see great outcomes,” says Nilupa.
“Running a business is never easy, but Bakers Delight has helped us
achieve a lot financially, and
socially, for the past 13 years.
“The decision to become a
Bakers Delight franchisee was
one of the best decisions we
ever made.”
Opportunity: Food & Beverage
Sri Lankan immigrants Darshana
and Nilupa Weerakoon share the
recipe for successfully building their
Hamilton East Bakers Delight franchise.
RAISING A
MILLION-DOLLAR BAKERY
Bakers Delight
www.bakersdelight.co.nz/franchising
Contact
info@bakersdelight.co.nz
Advertiser Info
Nilupa and Darshana Weerakoon