Some premium bakers partnering with the Lagos State Government to produce “Eko Coconut Bread” have highlighted their successes since the production of the bread started in October 2018.
The bakers spoke on Monday in Lagos during a monitoring visit to some of the bakeries by the Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA).
On Oct. 16, 2018, the Lagos State Government announced a partnership with 10 bakeries for the production of coconut bread and gave them kiosks, tricycles and bread packages for the smooth running of the project.
The bakers, who commenced production at different times, said the initiative created more jobs and also impacted on the general acceptance of their brands across the state.
The Chief Executive Officer of Butter Burst Bakery, Mr Babajide Ladipo, said that the bakery started production of the bread three weeks ago due to some hiccups the bakery experienced.
“We started operations very recently because we had some issues which we have surmounted and production is in top gear.
“I must say that the response from our customers have been very fantastic in terms of the volume of the Eko Coconut Bread we put out every day, although it was a slow one but now, they have accepted the brand.
“I commend the government for the partnership because people are always drawn to the kiosk and the logo on the bread wraps and they are impressed and responsive.
“The partnership has positioned and given us a positive public image. Some bakeries around are even asking how to become a partner. We make at least a batch of 110 loaves of the bread daily and we sell all of them,’’ he said.
Ladipo said that the coconuts used for the bread were freshly done daily.
He, however, suggested that the government should consider a smaller size of between 200 and 250g; help bakers with promotional articles and direct customer linkages to help boost the bread.
When the team visited Regal Bakery, Gbagada, the Manager, Mr Agbaje Olaniyilokun, said that the Eko Coconut Bread had helped the bakery in several areas in terms of getting more hands and sales increase.
Olaniyilokun said: “Since we started in November 2018, we produce 3 batches of 85 loaves daily in both our Gbagada and Ikota branches. So, daily, we make almost 300 loaves.
“The tricycle and kiosk given to us have been very helpful in transporting the bread to our sales point and the brand has been accepted by residents.
“People accept our brand more now when they see the LASG logo and they are happy to buy the product. We increased labour with six direct staff and four indirect staff,’’ he said.
Olaniyilokun, however, requested that more kiosks should be given to bakeries to enable them meet more demand and be closer the people and also a smaller size of the bread.”
NAN reports that other bakeries visited included Monamour Confectioneries where Mrs Olusola Olayinka said that the daily production was 100 loaves and had created jobs for six people.
Also, Mrs Adeniran Olusola of Sollisy Food and Beverages Ltd said that 8 people had been added to the workforce so far and the bread was accepted, producing an average of 200 loaves daily.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of LASCODA, Mr Dapo Olakulehin told NAN that the aim of the monitoring was to see firsthand, how the bakeries were faring since operations started and to note their challenges.
Olakulehin noted that it was the state government’s effort to build private sector partnership and the reports got from the bakeries, about one million loaves of the bread had been produced since November 2018.
“It was a public and private sector initiative by the state government to partner with 10 bakeries for coconut bread baking. To give Lagosians a healthy meal from a staple food, hence, we introduced the Eko Coconut Bread.
“We tried to make the environment very conducive for the bakers and so we gave them some empowerment in terms of tricycles, kiosks and bread wrappers to ease production and distribution of the bread.
“So far, so good, we have been getting good stories about the initiative and that is what informed this monitoring to converse with the bakers to know their challenges.
“Also to see how the state can help to improve the challenges and consumption of coconut bread. The partnership has also improved the image of the bakeries and people now see them as standard bakeries,’’ he said.
The general manager promised that the report would be given to the governor, while adequate response will get to the bakers on the smaller size.
The current size of the bread is 750g sold at N350. During the monitoring the bakers were advised to adhere strictly to the agreed weight and recipe of the bread to maintain standard.
