Industry | Bakery retail franchise |
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Genre | Corporate franchise |
Founded | Beechworth, Victoria, Australia (1984 ) |
Founder(s) | Tom O'Toole |
Headquarters | Beechworth, Victoria, Australia |
Number of locations | 6 bakery shops (2010) Beechworth Echuca Albury Healesville Bendigo Ballarat |
Area served | Victoria / New South Wales / Australia / International shipping |
Key people |
Tom O'Toole (Founder) |
Products | Full ranges of bakery goods. Bakery Meals Hot & Cold Drinks Cake, Slices & Biscuits Large Cakes Coach Group Meal Deals |
Services | School groups, social events, parties, baking demonstrations |
Revenue | US$12,000,000 (2010), 5% from 2009 |
Owner(s) | Tom O'Toole: CEO / Marty Matassoni: Managing Director |
Employees | 250+ (2010) |
Website | beechworthbakery.com.au |
Beechworth Bakery is a bakery franchise started by Tom O'Toole in Beechworth, Victoria in 1984. Beechworth is located in Northeast Victoria, 174 miles (290 km) north of Melbourne and 24 miles (40 km) from the twin cities of Albury and Wodonga which are situated on the Victorian and NSW border.
The Beechworth Bakery uses a technique of training for their employees that is a combination of on-the-job training as well as classroom training. The bakery at times will send their staff away to learn in a practical environment without interruptions with the use of outside companies to train staff in specific skills, including customer service, communications, management skills, computers and much more. Beechworth Bakery has been asked about the added cost of training for employees and if in fact it pays in the long run. Their answer is: "A well-trained employee who might leave some day is better than an untrained employee who might stay." Their goal is to have all customers leave with a smile on their face. To maintain this high standard, training for all staff members is provided to meet the Beechworth Bakery Customer Service Standard, which is provided by Productivity Increase Group through their seminars and quality control classes.[1] Beechworth Bakery's vision of customer service and satisfaction is based on three rules. "Rule 1: Take care of the customer. Rule 2: Take care of the customer. Rule 3: Take care of the customer."
A recent collaboration between Beechworth Bakery and the Learning Disabilities/ Dyslexia project run by Dr Everarda Cunninghamat at Swinburne University's Lilydale campus has seen the creation of an award to recognize achievements of individuals with learning disabilities.[2] This project has developed innovative ways of assisting students who are experiencing learning disabilities through teacher programs designed to provide practical support in the classroom.[3] The Swinburne University of Technology, special education teacher Michelle Hutchison has been awarded the inaugural Beechworth Bakery Award.[4][5]