Bakers Delight

Bakers Delight, an Australian bakery with more than four decades of activity

Bakers Delight is a bakery chain founded on 1 May 1980 by Roger and Lesley Gillespie, who opened their first store in Hawthorn, Melbourne. The company remains family-owned: in 2017, Elise Gillespie and her husband David Christie were appointed joint managing directors. The brand presents itself as one of Australia's most recognised franchise bakeries and operates more than 500 locations across the country, as well as offering franchise opportunities in New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

Bakery and pastry products

The company's catalogue is organised into several categories: breads and rolls, larger savoury items, larger sweet items, seasonal items, savoury snacks, sweet snacks and value packs. Standout items include the Round White Roll, the White Long Roll, the Hi-Fibre Lo-GI White Block Loaf, the Hi-Protein Low Carb Wholegrain Block Loaf, the Vanilla Slice Scroll and the Cheesymite Scroll. The company describes its offering as freshly baked bread made with real bakers, real ingredients and traditional recipes.

New releases and limited editions

The website announces the Chorizo Savoury Bite, a freshly baked bite with smoky chorizo and Spanish-inspired flavour, available for a limited time. Other savoury varieties such as the BBQ Sauce Savoury Bite and the Pizza Sauce Savoury Bite are also mentioned. It also announces the launch of a limited-edition cruffin made with KitKat.

Dough Getters loyalty programme

The company has a loyalty programme called Dough Getters, which offers exclusive rewards. According to the information on the site, members receive a welcome gift with a minimum purchase of $5, earn $5 in rewards for every $55 spent and access exclusive offers. Members can buy the Chorizo Savoury Bite for $3.50 for a limited time.

History and expansion

The company began its national expansion in 1993 and 1994, with the opening of bakeries in Sydney (April 1993), Brisbane (September 1993) and Perth (March 1994). In 1995 it opened its first international bakery in Auckland, New Zealand. In 2001 it surpassed 400 locations in Australia and New Zealand. In 2003 it opened its first store in Canada under the COBS Bread brand, in the Edgemont neighbourhood of Vancouver (British Columbia), and in 2015 COBS Bread reached the United States. In 1988, with 15 company-owned bakeries, the company began its franchise model.

Community commitment

Since 2000, Bakers Delight has maintained a partnership with Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), for which it has raised more than $18 million. The Pink Bun campaign raised more than $800,000 in 2010. The company also offers fundraising programmes and describes itself as a support for local communities.

Orders and services

The company offers online ordering at selected bakeries, with pickup or home delivery. The website includes recipes, baking articles and a customer service section. For enquiries, it provides the number 1800 325 325 and the email address order@bakersdelight.com.au.