Bakers Delight keeps on rising

MEDIA RELEASE 21 December 2006

Bakers Delight keeps on rising

Australasia's most successful retail bakery chain continues to experience significant growth and will take its first slice of the American market in March 2007, with the opening of a Seattle store.

The announcement of its American expansion coincides with the opening of Bakers Delight's 700th store worldwide, in Vancouver, Canada.

Bakers Delight joint CEO, Lesley Gillespie, said the company had opened 38 stores in Canada since 2003, and therefore felt confident to take on the more aggressive American market.

"When we first looked at expanding beyond Australia and New Zealand, we chose Vancouver, Canada as our entry point to the North American continent because of the similarities to the Australian market. Now that we understand the North American region we’re ready to tackle parts of the US.

“Our only competitors in the American market are supermarkets. We expect our fresh bread and personal service, plus the size of the population, to generate revenues higher than the average annual sales per bakery in Australia, which is about $700,000,” Lesley said.

Bakers Delight has also been experiencing significant growth in New Zealand. It has opened four new stores in New Zealand this year taking the current offering to 35 franchises.

Country Manager Colleen Milne says the company has just opened a new site in Gate Pa Tauranga this week, with two more New Zealand bakeries planned for 2007.

“Bakers Delight bakeries are opening increasingly in fresh food precincts as part of our long term strategy, and we are planning to expand into regional areas not already serviced by Bakers Delight”, says Colleen.

“The most recent Bakers Delight franchises offer an expanded product range with cafes and sandwich options available alongside our ever popular range of fresh bread and baked goods.”

Bakers Delight is currently experiencing double-digit growth in New Zealand and is actively looking for opportunities for local expansion.

ENDS

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About Bakers Delight:

Bakers Delight, Australasia's largest bakery franchise, was established in 1980 as a single bakery on Glenferrie Road in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn. Bakers Delight celebrated its 25th birthday in 2005 and boasts 700 bakeries employing more than 15,000 people, serving 2.5 million regular customers per week throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

Bakers Delight is a major sponsor of the Weetbix Tryathlon in 2007, and also sponsor the Tiger Territory at Auckland Zoo.
Committed to the Breast Cancer Network (NZ) through the provision of free office space and an annual fundraising campaign, Bakers Delight also supports local charities through the donation of fresh bread products.

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