Building Resilient Supply Chains: Solutions for a Successful Bakery Business
A thriving bakery business can take a series of measures to ensure it’s not vulnerable to finicky supply chains. From finding local sources for its ingredients to working with a single major supplier, there is a solution for each type of business.
Going Local
In 2022, before the Paris edition of Food Ingredients Europe, Julien Bonvallet, Group Brand Director, Informa Markets, named delays and disruptions in the supply chains as some of the most stringent challenges for the bakers attending the international ingredients fair. “But at the same time, data suggests that there’s an opportunity for ingredient sellers within Europe because the rise in transport costs is overlapping with the demand for more local products,” said Bonvallet. “So a lot of the buyers have indicated that they were looking for more local suppliers because it solves two problems at the same time. Another current strategy is to have alternative suppliers, not necessarily to replace existing suppliers but more of a backup to have in case of missed shipments and other shipping challenges.”
Going local is one of the ways bakeries can choose to approach supply chain challenges. Buying flour, egg, dairy, or fruit from local suppliers in your region or country ensures a faster delivery, more control of the ingredients’ quality and less worries about overseas transportation, which has been affected by political turmoil all over the world.
Going local has its drawbacks though. Some products are not available because they just can’t be cultivated everywhere: cocoa, sugar, vanilla, exotic fruit grow in very specific geographical conditions. Prices can be higher as suppliers deal with a smaller market. The consistency in quality may vary over time. Dealing with a higher number of suppliers has human resources costs as the relationship management requires more work hours.
For small bakeries focused on heirloom recipes, though, going mainly local is essential to maintain an authentic taste, even if some essential ingredients might travel a little longer.
Going Sustainable
One more recent strategy is focusing on sourcing sustainably produced ingredients, thus ensuring the partner industries – vanilla growers, cocoa farmers, palm farmers – can survive and continue to provide quality products while protecting the environment. This translates into sourcing ingredients with a low carbon footprint and a supply chain that respects human rights.
Read the rest of the story in the Winter edition of World Bakers Digital.