The aroma of freshly baked pieces of bread, the sweet cinnamon warmth gushing out of the store, and an inviting aura of the bakery is what one would wish for at any point of the day, be it at the new break of dawn, a gloomy evening or any festive occasion. A bakery is a solution to every kind of mood.
Bakeries have made a permanent place in the lives of people all around the world, which is exactly why their menu is of prime significance. There is a lot of thought process that goes into finalising bakery menu, since a lot many things have to be considered while preparing it including the theme of the bakery, various food items to be included, various sections it needs to be divided in and their pricing, choosing appealing colour palette and font, target audience, the logo of the bakery, images of the products, and a lot many miscellaneous things.
bakery, images of the products, and a lot many miscellaneous things.
Some of the most consequential factors that are to be kept in mind while finalising a bakery menu are-
- Deciding an explicit menu
- Styling the menu interestingly
- Categorising the variety
- Pricing of the items
- Discovering Trends, Tag lines and Niches
Deciding an explicit menu
The menu is the most crucial factor while setting up a bakery. While deciding the menu, one should realise that they need to be consistent in providing the items that they put up in their menu. So it is very essential to put specific items that will be surely available, and a disclaimer if the item depends upon the availability of the ingredients.
It is important to understand that it is not necessary to put-up every kind of bakery item that one knows of. The specific theme of the bakery should be kept in mind while finalising the menu. One should emphasize on what one loves about baking. It could be vegan delicacies, cupcakes, baked desserts, or even delicious loaves of bread. One should make sure to decide what type of products one wants to create, and then have variations within the category, preferably being mindful towards catering all kinds of customers and their food habits.
Styling the menu interestingly
The menu is a customer’s first opportunity to meet the baker. As important it is to design the interior of the bakery, so is to design an appealing menu. An apt and subtle menu is bound to win better clientele. The names of the items should appeal to everyone but still be unique.
The colour palette of the menu plays a pivotal role in the psyche of the customer. The most suitable colour palette for the bakery menu design is pastel shades. These colours convey a message of traditions associated with baking. They enhance the warmth and freshness of the bakery.
Although the choice of colours is subjective from person to person, it is advisable to not to use dark colours for bakery menus because they usually don’t suit the mood of baked products. Lighter shades of colours that are associated with cheerfulness and enjoyment.
It is a good idea to not use too many colours because the viewers generally get overwhelmed with the prolific use of colours and may lose sight of the content. The font and size of the words also play a crucial effect on the psychology of the customer. The menu must also include the name and logo of the bakery, the street address, the telephone number, fax number, email, hours of operation, modes of payment, and if delivery is available.
Categorising the variety
The items available should be displayed in separate logical categories so that it is easy for the customers to find what they are looking for. The categories can be based on events, such as holidays and religious ceremonies, or they can be categorized by the food type, such as hot and savoury, cold and sweet, freshly baked pieces of bread, etc. The categories can also be decided based on vegetarian, non-vegetarian or vegan items so that all kinds of customers find something for themselves. It is advisable to add short descriptions below the items for better understanding of the customer.
Innovative names for the items can be a great idea to allure customers. However, as much as one would want to choose exotic names for their items, it can all go in vain if the customer doesn’t understand the zest of it. Adding images of various items based on various categories can help make the items more familiar. Adding a separate category for specialised bakery products is always a good idea. They can be the unique and signature items of the bakery that the clientele will keep coming back for.
Pricing of the items
Running a bakery is usually profitable because who doesn’t love beautiful fresh loaves of bread and delicacies to calm the sweet tooth! However, deciding the pricing of the items can be the most comprehensive task, since one would want to cater to as many customers as possible. It is a good idea to aim for target audience depending upon the location of the bakery. For example, if the bakery is located near educational institutions, there can be discounted offers for students. The prices should be affordable for maximum customers.
Each item should include a description, the sizes available, the number of servings and the price. The items can also include the preparation time so that it is easier for people to choose what they want to order.
It may be helpful to look around other bakeries before deciding the prices, so that one understands the competition as well as the affordability of the items, while also keeping in mind that pricing has layers to it, like the cost of ingredients, labour, preparation, time and efforts.
Discovering Trends, Tag lines and Niches
While having a specialised classic menu is always a safe choice, it is beneficial to know the trends in the market. With whatever baked goods that one wants to create, one should make sure that they consider varieties that fit the trends customers are looking for. For example, people these days are understanding the value of good health focusing on healthier, vegan or gluten-free items.
Moreover, smartly crafted tag lines do the job of turning the heads around without having to announce it to customers. A swift play of words can make sure people remember your bakery and its essence for a long time to go.
In between the heavy competition amongst bakeries, it is necessary to find one’s niche and make a mark with a personalised menu that only you can offer and establish a brand for yourself.
Conclusion
Bakeries are a favourite destination of most of the people because baked goodness makes the heart smile. To sum up, the most important advice for running a successful bakery business will be ‘Be Original’. These words may seem like a piece of generic advice but to thrive in a business as competitive as bakery, being original and consistent works wonders!
