Why Everybody Loves Gardenia

by Daomisyel of Glamour Moments

No exemption! Admit it or not, everybody loves bread! you can substitute or accompany it with any meals or snacks you've wanted. From traditional loaf to other variants, breads are always present in supermarkets, convenience stores and restaurants. Quoting from what I've read online, they said the color of bread indicated a person's social status. The lighter the bread, the higher the status. Oh well, now we knew why some breads we couldn't afford but somehow see similar breads on store that has the same flavor. Thousand years ago, we knew that the whole bread was made from flour and water like a tortilla until Egyptians added yeast to the dough.

Baking Evolution
Consumers best concern is the demand for sanitation, would you believe that during those years bread was either wrapped by hand with paper and string to slice it into pieces. And, that is why on early years that wrapping was introduced to make sure that breads were sealed until in 1914, a bread wrapping machine was invented by Henri Sevigne wherein breads could be wrapped and sealed in waxed paper (probably to keep the breads fresh and consumable for 48 hours).

Followed by the development of an automated slicers, it wasn't successful because some materials didn't worked out together until it was being fitted and firmly sliced wherein collapsible trays hold the sliced bread and being sliced through sterilized pins.

Why Everybody loves Gardenia

I admit, I love Gardenia breads from its regular white bread to flavored loaves (ube, chocolate and California raisins) and still expanding its product line to make it more demanding to the consumers in general. It was in 1998 when the modern facility was introduced by Gardenia Bakeries Philippines. I've got a chance to visit the plant and it was a very great experience to witness such kind of huge bread machineries that we always see on other countries.

THE GARDENIA PLANT TOUR

The 'So Good, I love Gardenia' Slogan
A true winner 'branding strategy' that when we always hear its jingles on radio, or seen its commercials on tv we always knew that it was from Gardenia, maker of the high quality breads we've seen in the Philippines.

Bromate Free, Minus Cholesterol, and Trans fats
A healthy treat from Gardenia, formulated and recommended by Department of Health. That is why we see assorted breads that is also fortified with vitamins and minerals.

Freshness - Gardenia's Trademark
I was surprised when I discovered how breads were being delivered and reach out several provinces in the south Philippines. As they said, we would want you to bring home fresh breads. Right after the production, delivery vans picked up the breads from the plant and bring it to various places. Also, at the same time, replacing the unsold breads and bringing it back to the plant for other consumption (we were told how they deal with unsold breads, and it was very informative). Aside from freshness, its practice made them recognized as the country's bread making industry.

G-Lock System
Have you noticed the colors of the bread licks you've brought? A unique strategy of Gardenia for easy tracking of their breads containing the when the bread was made, the best before date and the retail price. Also contains vital information on which production line the bread was produced from with its specific batch number. Making it more accurate and ensure the safety of the products to protect the consumers.

Recognitions
As one of the most reputable bread making industry in the Philippines, the company has also earned numerous recognitions and awards
Superbrands award, the Annual National Consumers’ Award (ANCA) as Outstanding Bread Manufacturer for five straight years. Moreover, Gardenia has been ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9001:2000 certified and most recently, was upgraded to ISO 9001:2008, and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) certified since 2003 (HACCP accreditation is the consumer’s assurance that all Gardenia breads are safe to eat and is produced in a hygienic and pest-free environment.)

Discovering its distribution network
Today, Gardenia Bakeries Philippines has the largest distribution network in the baking industry covering the whole Luzon archipelago; eastern and western parts of Visayas which includes: Mindoro, Panay, the Negros islands, and Samar; and even as far away as Mindanao. It has reached Cagayan Province up to the farthest city of Tuguegarao in North-East Luzon; Laoag City in Ilocos Norte including Ilocos Sur and Abra in North-West Luzon; Dumaguete City in the Visayas; Negros and Maasin City in Leyte. Due to insistent public demand, Gardenia Bakeries Philippines has further expanded its operation by putting up another bread manufacturing plant in Lapu-Lapu City to serve Cebu, Bohol, as well as the northern parts of Mindanao covering Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City, Gingoog City, Iligan City, Bukidnon and reaching as far away as Davao City. As if that weren’t enough, the company also makes use of its unique distribution system utilizing their new fleet of company-owned feeder and delivery vans, as well as the Roll-On-Roll-Off (RORO) nautical highway system.

Motivation is the key why Gardenia's success is unbeatable. Sustaining its goal and making the people believe that the breads they made are from high quality products, maintaining its freshness and enthusiasm to its people.