The demand for oven-produced products in Nigeria is very high, and this is why the bakery business remains profitable.
Among the most popular bakery-produced foods in this part of the world are bread, meat pies, sausages, egg rolls, and of course, cakes!
Setting up a bakery isn’t as difficult as you think, but since you have no idea where to begin, then you’re in luck!
In this article, we’ll be giving you tips on how to start a bakery in Nigeria, so stay with us.
What You Should Consider
Setting up a bakery is one thing, knowing how to bake is another. You will find that most bakery owners in Nigeria already have baking skills, and that’s where their interest in the business stems from.
If you’re really serious about starting a bakery in Nigeria, then it would be wise to learn how to bake first. Not that it’s a must, but the knowledge will help you understand and run the business better.
If you don’t know how to bake, then you can learn how to do so in a matter of months. Most catering schools in Nigeria teach their students how to bake, so you can register with one and begin your journey in the bakery business.
That being said, follow the steps below to start your bakery in Nigeria.
- Have A Name For Your Bakery And Register With The Relevant Bodies
Like it or not, you will need to have a unique name for your bakery before you even open. People are very particular about the brands of bread or cakes they buy, so if you don’t have a name, your products would be considered inferior.
Let the name be unique and easy to remember, as this is the name that would accompany all your products to the market.
When you’ve finally decided on what to call it, you can then proceed to register with the relevant bodies. In Nigeria’s case, that body would be the National Food and Drug Agency (NAFDAC).
NAFDAC is responsible for regulating the production and sale of consumables in Nigeria, as well as making sure best practices are followed during production. If your bakery products are not NAFDAC approved, then you stand the risk of being prosecuted.
It would also be wise to register the bakery with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). This will certify it as a legally functioning entity in the country.
- Find Operating Space
Now that you’ve acquired your baking skills and have been registered by the relevant bodies, it is time to face the business properly.
Of course, you can’t have a bakery without adequate space. The good news is you can start small and expand along the way.
If you have enough room in your kitchen at home, then you’re in luck. You can manage that for the time being until you can afford bigger space. Although this would cause clashes between the regular meals you prepare for your household, and the products you are baking for sale.
If this inconvenience is unbearable for the members of your home, then you may have no other choice but to rent space elsewhere.
Ensure that the space you rent has the necessary amenities you would need to operate. A sink and running water are of utmost importance. You would also need a spacious counter for the preparation of the raw materials before the proper baking begins.
- Buy The Utensils You Need
What would a bakery be without the right baking apparatuses?
Once you’ve got your space, the next thing to do is buy the necessary tools you will need to bake your bread, cakes, and other pastries.
The items you will need to include a gas cooker with a built-in oven, pots, pans, batter beaters, boards, whisking spoons, and other types of cutlery.
For electronic devices, you don’t necessarily have to buy brand-new ones. You can buy fairly used ones to save money, which can later be used to improve on other aspects of your new bakery.
With all these in hand, you’re almost ready to begin operations.
- Source For Raw Materials
You will need many raw materials to bake. These include – eggs, flour, oils, sugar etc.
As a new business, it would be wise you get your raw materials from the cheapest possible source in order to maximize your profit after production and sale.
Be warned, though, do not compromise quality just because of price. Keep in mind that top brands of flour or sugar are more expensive than others, and it would be in your best interest to go for the best.
- Employ Labour
Baking is hard work, and having a helping hand won’t be a bad idea. It’s true the business is just starting out, but with dependable hands on deck, production would be a lot smoother.
If you can bake 20 loaves of bread per day all by yourself, imagine if you had someone else on the ground to help you out. It means productivity will increase to around 30 to 35 loaves per day.
Of course, you would have to pay salaries, but it’s only a small pinch compared to what you’ll be making from a larger output.
- Brand Yourself
There are bakeries all over Nigeria, but unfortunately, not all of them are known or even have a name associated with their products.
You must have noticed people hawking brandless bread along the streets. You wouldn’t want your products to fall into that category, so it would be wise to brand every product that comes out of your bakery.
This means you would have to create a logo for your bakery so that your products can be identified by it. Hire a good graphics designer to create a unique and easily identifiable logo for your bakery.
The logo should be printed on the packaging of all your bakery’s products, so they can be separated from the rest in the market.
Conclusion
Follow the steps in this article to start your bakery in Nigeria. Remember to brand your products and make them as delicious as possible.
Good luck!
