Bakers Delight exceeds franchisee forecasts

From: AAP
December 28, 2011 10:29AM

BAKERS Delight today forecast growth in franchise numbers and market share and said it had already exceeded franchisee forecasts for the new financial year.

The Australian-owned baking company said it had welcomed 35 new franchisees in the six months since June 30, 2011, and has targeted 100 in Australia by the end of the financial year.

“In FY11 we took on 50 per cent more franchisees than in previous years – in FY12 we’ve already exceeded expectations,” chief executive Lesley Gillespie said in a statement.

Bakers Delight was established 31 years ago and now has more than 700 bakeries across Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The company expects global sales turnover of $587 million in the 2011-12 financial year, an improvement on $571m in 2010-11.

Bakers Delight holds a 13.8 per cent share of the Australian bread market, according to Roy Morgan research, and this will grow with aggressive expansion plans, the company said.

“Our product is a staple that continues to stack up despite retail pressures,” Ms Gillespie said.

“Our intent is to be around for another 31 years. I am confident that our proven business model and continued expansion will enable us to achieve just that.”