BAKERY BUSINESS IN NIGERIA: How to get Started

Bread has always had a place on the dining tables of every home. Different flavours and varieties of bread are being produced and sold in commercial quantities in Nigeria.
Bread is readily available for purchase by people of all income levels both in the rural and urban areas of the country. This general acceptance and patronage has made the bakery business a very profitable one.
If you are interested in starting a bakery business, it is recommended that you learn what it takes to set up a successful bakery.
The information provided in this article does not in any way negate the need for you to conduct a feasibility study of a bakery business before taking a plunge. The post is only meant to give you some basic insight into the business.

Before you decide to start a bakery business anywhere in Nigeria, you first of all try to find out more about the business from those who are already into it and have spent years in the business. This will help you understand what you need to get started successfully as well as the pitfalls you need to avoid.
Here are the basic requirements of a bakery business.

Location
As expected, location is paramount to the success or failure of any business. You need to look for a suitable location for your bakery. Do not locate your bakery in a close cluster of buildings. Also you must make sure there is no other bakery in close proximity to yours — to avoid competition.

Bakery equipment
If you want to run a hitch-free bakery, it is important that you have the best equipment. You will need mixers of various sizes, refrigerators, display cases and, the most important of all, a huge baking oven.
Some of the bakery owners I visited laid much emphasis on the quality of your oven. They stressed that a poorly constructed oven could collapse and cause a lot of damage. So, it is recommended that you hire someone who really understands the process of constructing the oven when you’re ready to build yours.

Bakery licence
It is required that you register with the Association of Nigerian Bakers. They will provide you with the necessary information you need and the rules that bind the business in Nigeria.

Staff
For a start, you can employ people to handle tasks such as baking, someone to be working on the oven and distributors. A minimum of six employees will do.

Startup capital
It cannot be exactly stated how much is required to start the business, since it depends on many factors, such as location, availability of raw materials, and so on. I advise you to do a feasibility plan first. This will give you a clearer picture of how much you need to get started. You should have the capital to rent or buy a building for your bakery.

Other things you need to know about the bakery business in Nigeria
Profit
Profit in this business depends largely on the area you serve. Some form of creativity can also increase the level of patronage for your bread. Producing bread with nice and distinctive flavour can set you apart from the others.

Safety
For your safety and that of your employees, and for savaging your bakery from serious fire damage, it highly required that you install fire detectors and fire extinguishers.