Back to Previous

A slice of life

Sarah Stowe

Michelle Turner, is a Bakers Delight franchisee at Wellington Village and Mountain Gate, Victoria.

She had a successful career in payroll administration, working for the largest companies in Australia, yet she was looking for a way to escape the daily grind and found her solution in Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs. And now, with two young girls aged 14 and 10 years old, she relishes the flexibility that operating her own business offers.

How long have you been at Bakers Delight?

Seventeen years

Why did you invest in a Bakers Delight franchise?

“I didn’t even consider looking at any other franchise systems because Bakers Delight was such a well-known, trusted brand and every franchisee I spoke to said I’d be mad if I didn’t do it!”

What is your favourite aspect of working with Bakers Delight?

“At a time where there is so much discussion about working mothers, I feel lucky that I’ve been able to step away from the business to bring up my young children, and to re-enter the workforce when I was ready.

“If I hadn’t decided to go out on my own and invest in a franchise I never would have been able to have the flexibility I now have as a small business owner.”

How has Bakers Delight supported you in your franchise?

“I could never have started my own business by myself, and that’s the beauty of franchising. It allows you to run your own business but with the support and experience of an established and proven system.

“As a franchisee I can tap into expert advice from marketing, sales and human resources just to name a few – we’re never left to go it alone. There is always someone there to assist us in running the most successful business we can.”

What advice can you give to potential franchisees?

“This is not an easy road and not without challenges but it is worth the return. You need to be prepared to get a good team behind you and the support of the network.

“Focus on the development of staff and follow the systems. Staff are the cornerstone to the success of your business. A happy team means happy customers.

“If you tap into the resources provided by the Bakers Delight team, the systems, support and experience, the opportunities are endless.”

Business timeline

1980 – Roger and Lesley Gillespie open the first Bakers Delight bakery in Hawthorn, Victoria

1988 – Franchising concept was embraced

1995 – Bakers Delight went international, opening bakeries in NZ

1999 – Rapid expansion, 300 bakeries in the group

2003 – Expansion into Canada

2005 – Almost 700 bakeries in group