In this guide, I will you how to start a bakery in Nigeria. Bakery is one of the easiest business to start in Nigeria. On top of that, it’s very lucrative.
Bread is a meal accepted by everyone, whether young or old, male or female a lot of people like bread and therefore will keep purchasing it.
How Profitable is Bakery Business in Nigeria
Bread is a street food, it is easy, cheap and accessible no matter where you are in Nigeria. It is the hungry mans option and has been saving lives since its inception. In Lagos state alone, a million loaves of bread are consumed on a daily basis.
There is bread for everyone. Bread can be made in various ways such as slice, loaf, flavored as well as to help with the diet of people making it more appealing which leads to people purchasing more.
For instance, we have wheat bread, sardine bread, coconut bread, almond bread, cassava bread, Agege bread and even chocolate bread.
Read More: How Profitable is Bakery Business in Nigeria
How To Start A Bakery In Nigeria
1. Source for capital
The bakery business could be started on a micro or macro level. It could be started from your home or it can be started as a large commercial business, it all depends on the amount of money needed to start but with five hundred thousand naira, you are good to begin.
The amount of money needed to start a bakery also depend on other factors such as location, type of tools and equipment needed, rent and other factors.
A proper feasibility study should be done to determine the cost of starting the business. Your location and marketing strategy could determine how well you do in the business, but basically bread is a product that does not require a lot of work to sell because as we have said it is a product high in demand consumed by almost everyone.
The only worry one may have is competition, and that is why it is important to set yourself apart through good quality, pricing and choices.
2. Register your Product with NAFDAC
Before really starting the business, it is important to register with NAFDAC and get the necessary approval to start the business such as NAFDAC.
This is to ensure that what you make and produce meets the required and relevant standard of health and safety. This helps to put your business on a good footing as consumers will feel much safer buying your product.
Also find out if there are associations that you need to register with like a bakery or bread making body. There may be rules and regulations you may need to follow and meet before making an entry into the business
3. Get the Needed Bakery Skills
Get the skill you need, learn to make all kind of bread. You must develop a passion for your business as a potential employee; your staff will look forward to you.
Your business is your child, take it seriously. Get all the information you need and implement them. This will help you know things go wrong, how to take corrective measures, preventing spoilage, creating new recipes and holding the centre of your business together above all.
4. Hire Qualified Staffs
Get qualified and experienced staff to avoid waste. Interns and volunteers maybe allowed but qualified hands take the lead.
5. Choose a Good Location for your Bakery
Locate your bakery in the midst of people; an isolated area is a bad idea. Residential areas are perfect locations for bakeries. As in any business, location is key and important.
Although bread will sell any where, it is still important that you are located in an area that is well populated and close to raw materials.
The building or factory used should be well ventilated, clean and safe. To meet standards of the ministry of health and other regulatory bodies and most of all, to ensure that the populace are not open too food poisoning by consumption of rodent infested and contaminated bread. If you do not have the luxury of choosing a site and have to start from home make sure you keep the place neat and tidy.
6. How to Package your bakery Products
I normally cringe at the sight of poorly packaged bread. The fact that there is an unending high demand for bread doesnt mean you should take certain things for granted.
Ensure your loves are neatly packed in fine attracting bags. I encourage anyone willing to start a bakery to bake different types of bread.
Have your signature, unique or special recipe but make sure you meet the needs of different caliber of people. Bread comes in various forms and shapes and sizes.
You could decide to produce slice bread, loaf, wheat and other types or if you have the capacity you can produce a mixture or different types. Bottom line is you make choice and create a niche for yourself that people will identify you with.
7. Equipment needed for bakery in Nigeria
To make the business go smoothly, it is important you purchase the right and good equipment for the business as this will go a long way in producing good quality products.
You will need the following equipment:
Slicing machine: Very important if you intend to produce slice bread as it helps in slicing the bread.
Mixers: This is used to mix the flour and other items ready for baking, it could be local or electronic
Baking pans: This will be bought based on the size and specification of bread that is require .
Oven: This should be properly made and constructed so it does not collapse especially when used for commercial purposes.
Generating Plant: A bakery cannot function without electricity; the business of making bread is solely dependent on power supply. It is risky and hilarious to rely on the epileptic power supply in Nigeria for a business.
Get a big generating plant to provide power at all times. One of the easiest ways to get these things is to order them from AliExpress.com Top Wholesale Marketplace. Then get them shipped to Nigeria via Shoptomydoor or free delivery.
How Competitive in Bakery Business
The business of bread making is a very competitive one. Super mart and stores like shop rite, spar and market square all have their own bakeries. Other bakeries like five loaves, high quality, Wilsons and bread era are also huge names in the business. Strive to make yours a successful and lasting business.
Marketing Strategies for bakery Business in Nigeria
Every entrepreneur is expected to make use of all advertising mediums available to succeed. You must take publicity seriously by traditional media or digital media and by referrals.
Conclusion
I hope this article How to start a bakery in Nigeria has been valuable to you? You can carry out extensive research by visiting a bakery close to you or volunteering to work for free at a bakery around you to enable you garner practical experience. I wish you luck as you pursue your passion, wade your way through entrepreneurship and stay above the murky waters of poverty.