Beechworth Bakery

Beechworth Bakery
Industry Bakery retail franchise
Genre Corporate franchise
Founded Beechworth, Victoria, Australia (1984 (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)

Tom O'Toole (CEO)
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.

Staff training

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."

Community involvement

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]

References