An Australian bread-and-pastry chain is introducing its artisan products to The Philippines, with a bold plan for at least 100 outlets.

Bakers Maison, which makes French-style breads and pastries, is under the wing of Gardenia Bakeries Philippines, reports BusinessWorld Online.

“We envision for Bakers Maison to have a minimum of 100 strategically located stores in the next few years,” says Gardenia Philippines president/GM Simplicio Umali.

The first Bakers Maison has opened at SM North Edsa in Quezon City, offering freshly baked products “inspired by traditional and authentic French recipes and a fusion of flavours from all over the world”.

Bakers Maison is part of the QAF group from Singapore, the parent company of Gardenia Philippines, and was established in New South Wales in 1998.

All breads are partially baked in a clean and controlled environment and delivered frozen to the store for final oven baking, says Umali.

“This process, otherwise known as the ‘par-baked’ method, guarantees consistent quality and freshness.”

A central commissary production unit in Binan, Laguna, uses fast-freezing technology to lock in the freshness in the bread until final baking.

Gardenia Philippines last month opened a sixth plant capable of producing 150,000 loaves a day to serve bread demand in Luzon. The P1-billion ($21,000) plant is in line with the company’s effort to intensify distribution to retail partners from Cagayan Valley to Sorsogon.

Source: Inside Retail Asia