As a key player in the Australian food and beverage manufacturing sector, Australian Bakels is known for its innovative approach to ingredient development. With its headquarters in Silverwater, New South Wales, the company also operates nationwide with an extensive supply chain network.
The company caters to various segments within the bakery sector, including bread, pastry, cake, and confectionery, offering solutions that support both large-scale manufacturers and artisan bakers.
Its diverse product range provides a one-stop shop for bakery businesses of all sizes, with offerings spanning bread mixes, frozen pastry, gluten-free options, preservatives, and specialised products for pies, cakes, cookies, and confectionery.
Kristen Kuan, marketing coordinator and account manager at Australian Bakels, explained how the company’s commitment to innovation and quality defines everything it does.
“We pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop,” she said. “For example, if you’re making doughnuts, you can get everything you need from us, doughnut mix, fillings, icing, and even the cinnamon sugar to roll the doughnuts in.”
Some of Australian Bakels’ core offerings include:
- Bakery ingredients.
- Bread and bun mixes.
- Fats and oils.
- Cake and sponge mixes.
- Gluten-free and allergen-free products.
- Ready-to-Use fillings and toppings.
- Customised solutions and R&D support.
- Sustainability initiatives.
- State-of-the-art facilities
Australian Bakels’ Silverwater location has four distinct plants, each with specific capabilities. The dry mixing plant handles products such as bread mixes, cookie pre-mixes, sauces, and seasonings, capable of large-scale packaging from one-tonne bags to smaller, one-kilo bags.
“For example, we also have Tiger paste, a powdered mix that creates the signature crackle look on top of bread. We pack this in 10-by-one-kilo bags,” Kuan said.
Then there is the wet plant, which produces caramels, fillings, ready-to-use icings, and butter creams. These products are packaged in various formats, including 20-kilo buckets and smaller piping bags.
The fat plant manufactures fat blends, flavour pastes, and tin release agents, which help release cakes from pans quickly.
Finally, there is the frozen plant, which produces ready-to-bake cookie dough pucks. The dough is mixed, frozen, and stored for direct shipment. Additionally, Australian Bakels operates an icing sugar mill that produces its own icing sugar, ensuring control over one of the key ingredients in many of its products.
Efficiency and quality control
Australian Bakels’ large-scale operations offer benefits in terms of manufacturing efficiency. Smaller-scale manufacturers can often struggle with labour-intensive processes, which can introduce human error or food safety risks.
By partnering with the company, customers can achieve consistency and benefit from rigorous testing procedures.
“We test every mix immediately after it comes off the line,” Kuan said.
“We ensure that the product meets high-quality standards before it leaves the plant.”
This commitment to quality control is evident in the company’s adherence to regulatory standards, such as BRC certification. Australian Bakels’ technical and product development teams ensure that all products meet the various industry standards.
Global presence
As part of the Bakels Group, Australian Bakels has access to a global network of expertise and resources. With 38 companies under the Bakels umbrella, it benefits from shared knowledge and innovation.
For instance, its Belgium-based sister company, Bakbel, specialises in ready-to-use fruit fillings, which are packaged into retail-sized one-kilo packs and exported globally.
Kuan emphasised the value of these global connections, noting that they provide the company with the ability to collaborate on bespoke products.
“If we need specialised expertise, we can reach out to our sister companies for advice,” she said. “This global network is a huge asset when we’re developing custom products or exploring new trends in the bakery industry.”
The company also offers tailored solutions, such as custom blends and troubleshooting assistance for manufacturing challenges.
“We’re always here to help,” said Kuan. “If a customer is having trouble with a product, we can send one of our technologists to assist.”
The company also ensures consistent delivery across Australia through its national warehousing and distribution network, shipping products weekly to all states except the Northern Territory, which is serviced by South Australia.
Market trends
Australian Bakels is also proactive in responding to emerging market trends. Kuan said the growing demand for gluten-free and high-protein products as one of these trends. While gluten-free options are still a niche market,
the company imports these products from New Zealand’s Bakels division to meet demand.
“We’re always looking for ways to innovate,” said Kuan. “High-protein products, in particular, have seen a significant rise in popularity, and we’re excited to be exploring opportunities in this space.”
Australian Bakels remains focused on market and consumer trends, ensuring the company provides relevant solutions for the evolving baking industry.
At Australian Bakels, staying ahead of industry trends is not just a strategy but a commitment. The company’s approach is rooted in a thorough understanding of customer needs and broader market dynamics.
Market experts at Australian Bakels monitor trends closely, ensuring alignment with consumer preferences. This helps clients develop products
and solutions that resonate with
current demands.
Kuan explained that tracking consumer behaviour is essential to identifying emerging trends.
“Consumer behaviour is very important when it comes to tracking trends and what products we can help our customers develop,” she said. “We provide products that appeal to those trends.”
Australian Bakels accesses both national and international trend reports to guide decision-making.
Their marketing department remains aware of evolving trends through these insights, keeping the company ahead of the curve.
In line with this, Australian Bakels also caters to customers keen to create viral products, adapting quickly to the fast-paced nature of digital trends.
By paying attention to customer requests and identifying common needs, the company continually refines its offerings to meet expectations.
With its product range, global connections, and customer-focused approach, Australian Bakels is well-positioned to continue leading the Australian food industry.