Bagel Making Equipment

Types of Flour

Flour is the fundamental ingredient of many baked goods - including bread, pastries, pies, and cakes - as well as pasta and pizza dough. However, not all flour is alike. Various factors, such as protein content, how the flour is processed, and the grain, affect how you use it while baking. Whether you own a bakery, cafe, or restaurant, it's imperative to use the best types of flour to produce high-quality food and desserts. We explore the different kinds of flour, their uses, processing considerations, and protein content to help you find the best flour to meet the needs of your establishment. Shop All Flour Use the following links to learn more about different types of flour: Bleached vs Unbleached Flour Different Types of Flour Types of Flour Chart Types of Gluten Free Flour Flour Protein Content What Is Patent Flour?

Choosing the Best Commercial Bakery Equipment

Finding the right mix of bakery equipment to outfit your new bakery can seem like a daunting task. It's important to think about not only what you wish to produce, but how much, as those details will influence the specific pieces of equipment you should purchase. Whether you're looking to open a new business, expand your existing one, or simply replace some obsolete or aging pieces, you’ll want to purchase the right equipment and get the most for your money. Below, we’ve provided a list of tips and suggestions to help you get the best bakery equipment for your needs! Plus, we've even included a downloadable checklist for essential smallwares to use in your bakery. Download Checklist PDF Dough Preparation The first step in making bread or any other baked good is preparing the dough. Having that dough mixed properly is crucial to the quality and texture of the finished product. While a very small or artisan-style operation may prefer to mix their bread dough by hand on a wood-topped baker's table, most commercial bakeries will want at least one, if not multiple dough mixers. Commercial Mixer Commercial planetary mixers are available in a dizzying array of sizes, from small 5 qt. countertop models up to 100+ qt. floor units. Most mid to large-size bakeries will have several large floor units and might benefit from a countertop unit's portable nature, which will lend itself to mixing up small batches of icing or fillings quickly and easily. Our commercial mixer guide is a great resource with more detail about mixers, including a handy sizing chart. The most important factor is matching the capabilities of the mixer to what you want to be able to do with it. Dough Dividers and Sheeters Dough dividers are specialized pieces of commercial bakery equipment that take a large batch of dough and portion it out into equally sized and weighted balls of dough for consistent results when making pies, bread, or even pizza crusts. Dough sheeters take a ball of dough and roll and stretch it out to the size and thickness that you specified. This improves consistency in your pie and pizza dough crusts. Dough dividers and dough sheeters are great labor savers and help you improve the consistency of your output. However, you'll want to consider the return on investment, as they can be bulky and expensive to purchase initially. As a result, they're most often used by higher volume establishments. Holding/Proofing When proofing bread dough, you're allowing it to rise before baking. Because dough rises best in warm, humid environments, you'll likely want to invest in some proofing cabinets. These specialized pieces of equipment achieve the perfect temperature and humidity levels to get consistent, repeatable results. Suffice it to say that the number of variations and styles of proofing cabinets available is huge. Purchasing considerations: Size: full height, 3/4 height, 1/2 height, or undercounter Door configuration: glass or solid doors, full door or split door Interior configurations: Fixed wire slides, lip load slides, shelves, universal slides You can purchase cabinets that are strictly designed for proofing or models that also boast a hot holding function. These combination holding and proofing cabinets give you the versatility of two different pieces of equipment in a single footprint; you can proof dough and keep the finished product or other foods hot and ready to sell or serve in the same cabinet! Retarder/Proofer If you wish to slow down the rising of dough, you can refrigerate it. But, some types of dough turn out best when they're allowed to rest at higher temperatures than those of a commercial refrigerator. In this case, you may want to consider a retarder. The most versatile retarders are combination units that will switch over to proofing the dough when you're ready to do so. These retarder/proofer combos are great labor savers because you can put your dough in them overnight, program the machine to start proofing them at a certain time, and have them proofed and ready for baking exactly when you're ready. A few specialized models even combine the retarder/proofer and convection oven capabilities into one unit! Baking The heart of any bakery is its oven, and you'll have a lot of options available to you when deciding what type of oven to purchase. Like purchasing a commercial mixer, it's important to think about what types of product you are producing, and in what quantities, because those factors can influence which type of oven would be best for your needs. Compare the features of commercial ovens before making an investment. In planning, keep in mind that no matter what type of oven you end up installing, you'll almost always need it under a ventilation hood. Convection Ovens Convection ovens are one of the most common pieces of commercial bakery equipment. They do a great job of quickly and evenly baking a variety of products, from bread loaves to cookies to cakes, pies, and brownies. Their use of internal fans to circulate the air creates even browning and repeatable results. Of the types of ovens typically used in a bakery, a convection oven is the most common and least expensive. Some high-end bakery convection ovens boast steam injection and other specialized features that can take your baked goods to the next level. For a more thorough breakdown of convection ovens, check out our convection oven guide. Deck Ovens Artisan-style bakers or those making specific types of bread often prefer a deck oven. Their stone cooking decks heat up, giving the crust a distinctive, crispy character while maintaining a soft and moist inside. A deck oven takes up a considerably larger amount of space compared to a convection oven, so keep that in mind if space is limited. However, due to their relatively simple design and few moving parts, they last a long time and operate without a lot of hassle. Both single deck and multi-deck styles are available. Roll-In Rack Ovens A roll-in rack oven is similar in concept to a roll-in refrigerator or proofing cabinet in that you can wheel a pan rack full of goods right into the oven for baking. Some models will "grab" the pan rack and rotate them during the baking process for even results. The advantage of this style is time and labor savings due to less product handling. You can save even more time if you have a roll-in proofing cabinet. In that case, you can simply load the pans full of product onto the rack, proof them, roll them into the oven for baking, and roll them out for cooling once you're done baking! If you're considering this style, make sure you have roll-in oven racks designed for this use; not all racks have high-temperature casters. Revolving Ovens A revolving oven has large revolving trays that you can load with product, similar in concept to a rotisserie-style oven at a deli or market. These have a very high capacity and output capability but are also quite expensive. Make sure your output needs and budget can justify the purchase of one of these units. Display and Sales Bread Slicers Due to their speed and consistency of cut, bread slicers are a great option if your bakery plans to sell sliced bread. A few specialized models even accommodate unique baked goods such as French bread, buns, and bagels. Bakery Display Cases If you have plans for a large retail component in your bakery, you'll want to consider what types of bakery display cases you will need. Both refrigerated and non-refrigerated styles are available, depending on the type of products you plan on selling. Likely, you'll want a mix of both. You will also have to decide whether you want a self-serve display case or one designed for serving customers from behind the counter. As there are so many sizes and styles to consider, it's a good idea to consult our deli case and bakery display case buying guide for a more detailed overview of what's available. Finding the best commercial bakery equipment is just one step in starting a successful bakery business. In addition to heavy equipment, be sure to stock up on tools like bread knives and other smallwares that are essential for any bakery. We have a wealth of articles and buying guides dedicated to bakery-specific topics!

Marketing Strategies for Your Bakery

Before you open your bakery, it’s important to understand who your target market is and how you’re going to reach them through a bakery marketing plan. This allows you to pick a viable location for your business and discover how much future customers are willing to spend on your sweet treats. In addition, it's important to include market research and a bakery market analysis in your business plan to provide evidence to future investors that your business has the potential for success. Below are a few common marketing strategies to help achieve your bakery's sales goals before and after opening day. Conducting Market Research When conducting market research for your bakery, you should focus on gathering primary and secondary data. Primary data is collected by talking directly to your potential customers and scoping out the competition. If you aren’t sure where to start, there are companies you can hire to do primary research.One way to gather primary data is to offer your products in a smaller capacity, such as at a farmer’s market stand or booth. This way, customers can try your offerings and provide feedback before you open your brick and mortar store.Secondary research is the collection of data from outside sources, including government censuses, trade associations, and other local organizations. This information includes demographic data, which is crucial for helping you determine your target market. Defining Your Target Market Your bakery’s target market refers to the specific customers or businesses you want to sell your goods to. By defining your target market, you can ultimately discover what your niche is going to be. This can be one of the major keys to success in any business endeavor.When defining your market, it’s important to be as specific as possible. Start broad, such as determining who you want to primarily do business with. Most bakeries will sell to customers in their shop, whereas some will only sell to other businesses, like diners, restaurants, and cafes. At this time, you should also consider what geographic area you want to serve and the type of customer within that area you’d want to target. Writing a Bakery Market Analysis Once you’ve completed your market research and defined your target market, it’s time to write a market analysis. Incorporating a market analysis into your bakery’s business plan justifies to your investors that there is a want and need for your products in your chosen location.When writing your market analysis, it’s important to get as much demographic information about your prospective customers as possible: What is the average income level in the area?How much do locals spend on dining out?What do other bakeries charge for the products you’ll be offering? Marketing Your Bakery After You Open Since you already have the perfect location for your bakery startup, along with delicious products, it’s time to let everyone know that you’re open for business. Consider implementing the following steps into your marketing plan once your bakery has officially opened. Set Your Marketing Goals As your bakery enters its first few days of business, it’s important to set your marketing goals. These marketing goals are designed to help you achieve the sales goals you had previously set in your bakery’s business plan. Setting these marketing goals gives you a standard to weigh your future results against. This helps you decide whether your strategies are working or if you need to try something else. When setting your marketing goals, it’s important to consider the following questions: How many hours per month do you plan to devote to marketing your business? What social media channels will help you best hit your target market?How many followers do you plan to have on your social media channels by the end of the year? How many sales transactions do you estimate per month? What will be the average revenue from those transactions? What percentage of the bakery market in your area do you plan to obtain by the end of the year? In two years? Five years? Market to Your Ideal Customer Base Defining your ideal customer is an important step in the marketing process, because that customer is who you’ll be targeting with all of your marketing efforts. Try to get specific as possible, with considerations including age, gender, income level, and profession. If you’re looking to open your bakery in a college town, for example, you can decide if your ideal customer would be college students, professors, or locals. Depending on your ideal customer base, you can alter your price points, offerings, location, and overall atmosphere. Define What Differentiates Your Product Once you’ve determined your bakery business type, it’s time to market your unique aspects to potential customers. If you’re opening a wholesale bakery, focus on advertising value and taste to grocery stores or restaurants. Alternatively, if you’re focused on producing wedding cakes, only market to newly engaged couples and wedding planners. Or, if your offerings are for the general public, focus on advertising specific qualities such as healthy ingredients, superior quality, unique flavors, or unbeatable taste.  Choose Print Marketing Materials You’ll want to use marketing materials, including flyers, business cards, and newspaper ads, that will best reach your target market. Whatever materials you decide to use, keep them in circulation long enough to measure their performance. Don’t be afraid to ask customers how they heard about your business, and use this information to determine how successful your print marketing campaign is. Below are a few common print marketing materials to consider. Brochures and flyers: These are relatively easy and inexpensive to produce. Outline your menu and mission statement to give community members an overview of your business. Postcards: If you have access to local mailing addresses, consider sending postcards out to invite customers into your bakery. This is a good method for alerting community members about your grand opening. Business cards: Because they’re small and portable, you should try to keep business cards available to hand out at all times. Newspaper ads: These can be useful for targeting an older demographic that may not get around town to see your flyers or brochures.  Choose Online Marketing Strategies Opting for online marketing can help you reach a wider audience in a shorter amount of time. Depending on your strategy, online marketing can also be a budget-friendly option with no printing required. Below are a few online marketing strategies to consider. Be Active on Social Media Creating social media pages for your business is a must. Social media gives customers the opportunity to get to know your business’s personality, which helps them form a connection with your bakery. Social media can even be used as your main website until you are able to establish your own domain. Dan Langan, owner of Baked by Dan, provides insight into how important social media is for bakeries: “As a product of the 'social media generation,' I was active on social media from day one of my business. It is essential to have a web presence, and social media allows more online customer engagement than a traditional website. We've all heard that we 'eat with our eyes first,' and we know how important presentation is with our cakes and pastries. A well composed photo of your bakery products can do wonders for your business once people begin sharing the photo and talking about it online.” Social media also allows prospective customers to be engaged with the day-to-day activities of your bakeshop. Customers want to see you mixing doughs, finishing cupcakes, and filling the case. This feeling of insight into the baking process is what has made the open kitchen concept so popular with bakeries, and social media allows customers to have that experience remotely. Consider starting a Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for your bakery. Each platform offers something different, so it’s important to incorporate more than one social media site into your marketing strategy. Social media offers a free space to promote your business, so be sure to take advantage of it. Use Search Engine Optimization Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the use of strategies to make websites appear higher in organic search engine results. For example, if someone searches for “cupcake bakeries in (your city),” you want your cupcake bakery to show up first on the page. Implementing basic SEO strategies can have a big impact on the traffic to your website, which can lead to more traffic in your brick and mortar store. Optimizing your website using basic SEO techniques will also help you show up on important page listings like Yelp and Google Maps when customers are searching for baked goods in your area. Create a Loyalty Strategy Once you’ve gained some foot traffic, it’s time to focus your efforts on getting existing customers to come back to your bakery. Because it’s more expensive to bring in new customers than it is to create repeat customers, it’s important to keep your existing clientele happy.Consider implementing a loyalty program to show appreciation for repeat customers. Offer a loyalty card, or implement a system that uses the customer’s phone number, to keep track of visits. By giving customers a free item or discount after so many visits, you’re motivating patrons to come back time and time again. You can also ask customers to complete an online survey after they visit your bakery, and be sure to offer a reward. This gives guests a chance to offer their opinions anonymously, which can give your bakery helpful critiques. Listen to repeat complaints or suggestions and let customers know their voices are being heard. Focus on Community Outreach As a new business, it’s important for you to get out into the community before and after you open. This gives local community members a way to start to see your bakery as a fixture in the neighborhood. There are many ways to get involved with your community. Begin selling your goods at the farmer’s market, raise money for local charities, or donate goods to fundraisers and events. What you miss in profits or donations can easily be made up by the brand impressions you’re creating amongst community members. As you work towards opening your bakery, it’s important to focus on marketing to your ideal target market. Conduct a market analysis for future investors and begin to implement effective marketing tools to reach your desired demographic. A successful marketing campaign can help you achieve your sales goals while creating a reputation for your business that will draw customers in for years to come.