| 15 T T Sue Russell Rising fortunes for bakery business Ed Hemming and Ryan Simmons have combined their skills in Volare Bread. Volare Bread REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Volare Bread directors, Ed Hemming and Ryan Simmons were mates from school days, and though each took a separate path professionally, it seemed their working lives were destined to combine when they decided to team up and establish a bakery business in Hamilton. As a fifth-generation baker, Ryan had the skills and background to apply these to the fledgling company, while Ed concentrated on creating business and seizing opportunities as these came up. “Ryan put an oven into his garage and started selling at the local farmers’ market. From this, things just grew organically to supply cafes and restaurants,” says Ed. Selling initially on a small scale at the farmers’ markets in Hamilton and Cambridge proved a good fit, giving customers the chance to see, smell and taste the fresh offerings. That beginning, back in 2009, was something of a leap of faith, without the pair necessarily having a clear strategy as to how to grow the business. “Once our brand became known, with Ryan busy creating the recipes and overseeing the baking, it was more my role to ground a growth strategy, and this meant finding a bakery that was fit for purpose,” Ed explains. This next step was achieved when Ed and Ryan teamed up with prominent Waikato business family the Gallaghers, through their Gallagher Trust, who were keen to help the fledging business grow. “We set up a bakery in part of their land on Gallagher Drive, and have just recently moved into larger premises 300 metres away. Now we’re supplying our five Volare shops, as well as our wholesale customers and online orders,” says Ed. Diversifying beyond simply supplying product to cafes, food stores, markets and the like to supplying their own brand stores has meant growing the team to include marketing and retail staff. On the retail front, Volare’s latest flagship brick and mortar store at Hamilton East’s iconic MADE centre, has proven a very positive development. “There’s something about this part of the city. It’s evolved into the Ponsonby of Hamilton, with its own vibe, and the precinct is a destination space for visitors and locals alike. The store is going well in a great location at MADE’s entrance,” says Ed. Having an online presence for the benefit of those that can’t reach a store or outlet has been a positive strategy, particularly when Covid brought restrictions, Ed says. Delivery is within the ‘golden triangle’ of Hamilton, Tauranga and Auckland, with a fleet of Volare vans as well as couriers transporting the orders. “We bake fresh every morning and deliver the same day. “Orders must be placed by 2pm, two days before delivery, and for orders of $60 or more, delivery is free,” Ed says. While shopping online is a convenient option for customers, Ed says there’s something about the romance of going into a bread shop, savouring the aroma and seeing the sheer range of bakery delights that can’t be beaten for experience. He is full of praise for the team the business has gathered, who are all passionate about what they produce. “We have staff clicking up eight to nine years with us, and we work in closely with junior staff, putting them through their apprenticeship.” He takes pride in the fact that he’s seen personal growth and development in the team. “I really celebrate seeing their growth and achieving their goals.” The philosophy underpinning how Ryan, Ed and the team all work is best described as collegial and very supportive. “We haven’t got a hierachical structure. People have their roles, but we all pitch in and help when necessary. “You have to work as a team in this game and we all share in our achievements.” “Ryan put an oven into his garage and started selling at the local farmers’ market. From this, things just grew organically to supply cafes and restaurants.” Commercial & Industrial Electricians Proudly Supporting Volare Bread Peebles Electrical specialise in the servicing, repair and maintenance of industrial sites, commercial electrical installations and commercial food equipment. As industrial and commercial electrical experts, Peebles Electrical has significant collective experience in the electrical industry, our team share a vast knowledge base, along with technical skills delivering results quickly and effectively. Contact Us 07 847 3438 info@peebles.nz www.peebleselectrical.nz Specialists in commercial food equipment.
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