Coping with new normal: Local bakeshop chain steps up operations

CEBU, Philippines —  Homegrown bakeshop chain San Jose Bakeshop implements changes in its operations to sustain the business under the new normal.

Affected by the prolonged lockdown last year and the declining in-store consumer traffic, San Jose Bakeshop had to shut down three branches in 2020, said San Jose Bakeshop president Jojo Tiongko Jr.

To sustain the business, and continuously serve customers, the company invested heavily on innovation, such as installing its own fleet of delivery services, and online ordering system, among others.

“We firmly believe that by prioritizing innovation today is the key to unlock post-crisis growth. We are the first bakeshop to have our own delivery fleet that serves the needs of homes and offices for free with a minimum of P150.00. To support this initiative, we have deployed 10 delivery hub bakeries covering areas from Carcar up to Danao City,” Tiongko said.

According to Tiongko, the company has beefed-up and maximized its IT hardware, software and infrastructure.

“This pandemic proved that the technological investments, which we thought will be useful in five years’ time became imminent and suddenly became the backbone in going through this new normal or in other words, "the future became ‘the now’,” added Tiongko.

Currently, the company is paying cloud-based communication platforms that enable then to communicate clearly and efficiently all throughout its organization even down to branch operations level. Paralleled with the continuous upgrading of our existing Cebu Based developed Enterprise Resource Planning software. “We never thought that baking bread was this reliant to technology more than ever.”

Moreover, the bakeshop chain has rolled out an authorized reseller program wherein it partners with different potential entrepreneurs who are willing to sell its products.

To prepare the business for the new operational system, it recently completed the construction of 1,700 square meters commissary facility. This will pave the way for introduction of new and innovative products and services going forward.

“San Jose Bakeshop will realign its initiatives to serve the untapped markets and will be launching different business concepts that will give better opportunities to those people who have the time and capital to operate a business at a fraction of the cost,” he said.

Established in 1983, San Jose Bakeshop is one of the largest bakeshop chains in Cebu.