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Bangladeshi bakeries have taken up their retail business seriously riding on the popularity of cakes on various occasions or festivals even in rural areas across the country.
Consequently, the cake market has also witnessed a significant growth over the recent years following the increased modern trend of celebrating birthday, anniversary, mother’s day, father’s day, children’s day, valentine’s day and even for pet’s birthday.
Cake is the go-to dessert for every one-dish party or family gathering nowadays. Most interestingly, decorating cakes has taken its place as a form of art in itself which, not too long ago, was even pondered.
Social media platforms such as Facebook are also propelling the mass people to celebrate these events even by reminding them.
It is truly fascinating how online cake shops are competing neck-to-neck with predominant mainstream cake giants in Bangladesh and that too, only in a matter of a few years.
This is made possible by home cooks constantly trying and inventing new ways to perceive cakes. The main reason behind the rapid success of cake businesses is the initiation of some unorthodox approaches to decorating cakes.
Apart from aesthetic designs, homemade tests and easy home delivery facilities for the consumers are the key factors to buoyant business not only in the capital but also in rural Bangladesh.
Though there is no accurate available data, the business insiders said, “Nearly 20,000 cake outlets are in operation only in the capital where at least 50,000 people are employed in the growing cake making industry.”
The facilities of e-commerce and f-commerce have altogether become a boon for the industry to receive maximum orders and simultaneously to ensure home delivery to the consumers.
Even during the ongoing pandemic, the tendency to purchase cake from e-commerce and f-commerce has increased manifold in order to avoid purchase at present.
On the other hand, the homemade cake is also recently hitting the market for the city dwellers with more fresh flavour, which is believed to ensure hygiene properly.
The celebration spree has also brought smiles to many of the unemployed. As educational institutions are closed and all kinds of tests are withheld due to the pandemic, students and job seekers are now coming into this sector in various ways.
The Tasty Treat, Mr. Baker, Mithai, Decent, Cake Town, Hot Cake are the key players in the cake making industry.
Most of the companies are planning to expand their business through opening new branches across the country with more investment because of the huge market demand for cakes.
Tahsin Hossain, senior marketing executive of Decent said, “We have 12 outlets in operation as of now. We are planning to open new outlets soon as there is a huge demand for our cake all over the country.”
Shadat Hossen, admin officer of Mr. Baker said, “As people’s tests have now changed over the past few years and they are celebrating more than ever before, the cake business is growing faster.”
“Even middle-class and low-income people are also now accustomed to cake-cutting culture. The business has now grown to an all-time high. It will flourish further in the days ahead.”
With the burgeoning cake business, other businesses such as party spry, balloons, birthday foil, party pooper, sparks, candle, knee, hat pang have also hit the market. Several wholesale markets have been developed in Chawkbazar and several other areas of the country.
Digital platfroms a boon for the industry
Cutting cake has become a custom among the young generation because of the Facebook invitation to celebrate their birthday. Technology has also become a boon for the industry people. The increased use of smartphones with internet facilities is driving the online sales.
According to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Out of the total 120.95 million internet subscribers, 110.9 million are mobile phone users while 10.05 million use broadband connections at the end of June, 2021.
Gradually, the cake companies are entering into e-commerce, f-commerce with a view to drawing more customers. On the other hand, the homemade cake business is totally dependent on technology, which can be run without bearing the cost of any outlet. Besides, the tendency of purchasing cakes online has increased due to imposed restrictions on limited movement due to pandemic.
Md Saifuddin who operates the Facebook page of Al Amin Hot Cake at Mirpur said, “Previously, we used to sell our cake only in the outlets. Now, we are selling all the cakes using online platforms.”
“Every day, we could deliver 30 to 40 orders but the number of orders has now been increased soon after we created an online page. We are now delivering nearly 50 to 60 orders in a day as the customers prefer online order to offline due to the ongoing pandemic.
Sanjana Yashfina a student of Dhaka University said, “Now I prefer online order to offline as we have many options now without wasting time. On the other hand, it is safer for us to order online because of the pandemic.”
Employment opportunity for unemployed
The cake business has created employment opportunities for many jobless. As educational institutions are closed for nearly one and half years while job examinations also remain suspended, many students and even house wives are now seeking their jobs in this sector.
After developing the Cakes Bake brand on Facebook, former student of Dhaka College Nure Alam said, “I have tried to get a job but it was too difficult for me to get a job in the country. However, during the pandemic, I planned to do something myself. Now, I am receiving orders of at least 300 to 400 pieces of cake in a month. As my business is going well, I have planned to invest more in this sector.”
Birthday cake bd - an online service platform for selling cakes in the city’s Mirpur area. Which was started by three friends Nahid Khan, Ibrahim Hasan, Masud Islam three in 2016.
At the very beginning they used to supply their cakes to the buyers through various outlets. Nahid said, “We started to deliver the cake ourselves after receiving huge calls from the buyers. Now we are giving home delivery service across the whole Dhaka city.
Homemade cake getting popular
As the cake business has gradually expanded in the country, the leading companies are opening outlets in many parts of the country. New brands are also coming up in the city. A lot more homemade cakes are also hitting the market. Out of their hobby, many women are making homemade cakes at their homes. Certainly, some are doing this for their livelihood. Gradually, the homemade cake is getting popular among the food lovers.
Nila Islam, proprietor of Let’s Eat Homemade Food said, “Though I have started my business last year, I am now receiving much delivery which was beyond my expectation.”
“After running the business, now I can support my family. Facebook has become a boon for the business. We can do the business even at home and the customers can get goods at home. This can save their valuable time too,” she added.
Bangladesh Bread Biscuit-O-Confectionery Prostutkarak Samity president Mohammad Jalal Uddin said, “There is huge demand for cake in the market as the country has developed in the last couple of years. The digital facilities have also created huge opportunities in this sector. Still there is a huge opportunity in the sector which will create more jobs in near future.
Bangladesh Auto Biscuit & Bread Manufacturers Association president Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan said, “As social and economic ability have risen among the people, the cake business is growing fast in the market. Those who could sell 10 lakh pieces of cake before, they are now selling 50 lakh pieces of cakes annually. If we can ensure quality products, there is also an opportunity for us to sell our cakes in the global market.”
