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Choose new equipment from a bakery supply company for your business

New bakery supplies can be a wonderful choice for any business. New equipment offers stability and durability that you may not find in used equipment. If you do choose to purchase new baking supplies for your business, choose your wholesaler carefully. The best wholesalers offer warranties and product rentals in case of repairs.

I recommend: BigTray offers a wide variety of new bakery equipment, as well as, bakery accessories, and their special pricing on opening and remolding packages are sure to help out any business. Central Restaurant Products also offers a great selection of bakery equipment and accessories. A direct wholesale source for your bakery equipment needs, this company also has product consultants who can help you design your kitchen.

Select used bakery equipment to stay within your business' budget

Used equipment can be the perfect choice for any bakery business. Not only are the prices right, but used equipment providers also offers their experience and knowledge for your bakery business. Before buying used equipment, it's important to be sure of a warrantee or product guarantee.

I recommend: Check out the prices at Baker’s Best where each new machine is chosen particularly for its reliability and performance and for customers not ready to commit to new equipment, they also offer used bakery equipment. Horizon Equipment also offers competitive pricing on new and used or refurbished equipment guaranteed to be of the highest quality available.

Consider leasing your bakery machines from a well known bakery supplier

Leasing is a wonderful option for many bakery business owners. Leasing offers a short-term commitment to bakery supplies and bakery ovens. Before leasing or buying bakery equipment, it's important to consider a few key pieces of information. For instance, be sure to always consult an expert and don't buy or lease items more than 10 years old.

I recommend: For more information about buying and leasing bakery supplies check out Bakery Equipment.com. You can look to The Money Source, another great resource of information in the buying versus leasing debate with a vendor link directory to help you find a reliable supplier for your leasing needs.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Bakery ovens and bakery accessories are the biggest investment you'll make in your business. Be sure you know exactly what you're looking for before you purchase any items.

Guide to Bakery Equipment and Baking Supplies

How to find food service supplies and food service equipment vendors for your bakery

By Greg Brown

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Bakery ovens and other equipment come in many sizes

The largest types of equipment are used for making bread and other pastries at an industrial level and costs tens of thousands of dollars.

I recommend: If you are trying to set up a wholesale baking operation, you’ll be dealing with industrial food service equipment vendors like Adamatic, Apex and Magna. If cost is a factor, used bakery equipment is a good option.

In-store bakeries go with smaller equipment

Seems every grocery store, coffee spot and sub shop proclaims 'fresh bread' to its customers. They do this with smaller, more affordable food service equipment.

I recommend: Vendors of smaller but still professional bakery equipment include Mono Systems and Ace Mart.

Bakers large and small need a range of food service supplies

There's plenty more than flour in today's bread and cakes -- industrially produced oils, fats, emulsifiers, preservatives and more baking supplies – that bakers must buy in bulk to stay competitive.

I recommend: Check the food service supplies catalogues of American Ingredients Company, Bunge Foods, and Pennant Foods.

Bakeries need plenty of pre- and post-baking gear

Freezers, chillers, machines that rub egg whites or sugar or chocolate -- the automation of most bakery equipment systems means very few human hands, consistent production and speed.

I recommend: Belshaw and FedCo Systems focus on heavily on the secondary food service equipment needed to keep bakers productive. See also the Business.com food service equipment and baking supplies directories for bread, bagels, doughnuts and dough forming.

Check used food service equipment vendors for deals

Reconditioned and never-used food service equipment, even whole used bakery assembly lines turn up for sale through used food service equipment vendors.

I recommend: Start your search for used bakery equipment with one of these dealers: Independent Bakery Equipment Company, Bid on Equipment, Commercialbakery.com or Aaron Equipment Company.

Build your bakery with leased food service equipment

Food service equipment leasing can offer 100 per cent financing and tax breaks.

I recommend: See the leasing terms at Bakery.com or find other food service equipment leasing companies at Business.com.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Food service equipment vendors usually focus on bakery ovens and heavy-duty equipment, or they focus on the rest of the baking supplies business.
• •  Bakery equipment is tough, built like diesel trucks or elevator cars -- they just don't wear out. So, buying used bakery equipment or bakery ovens can be a good deal if you know how to buy carefully.
• •  Food service supplies, including bakery supply, is usually a regional business unless you buy from a few national chains that do big food service supplies contracts. Look for a local vendor first, then price it against the big companies.

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Include professional baking industry associations and groups catering to bakery suppliers and owners

Baking associations offer many benefits to the business owner, including finding baking equipment for sale and the best bakery suppliers. Beyond those uses, baking groups are also one of the perfect places for finding the best bakery equipment news and trends. Plus, there are national and local associations that focus on news for specific geographical areas.

I recommend: Bakery Online is a great source for the latest news and trends in the baking industry. It’s a VertMarkets Marketplace for industry professionals and suppliers of bakery equipment. Also, check out Retail Bakers of America for news and trends in the bakery industry.

Gather a selection of bakers' supply magazines and other publications for news about the industry

Print publications are the perfect source of information on a variety of topics. As a retail business or bakery owner, you know it's essential to stay up to date on important information about your supplies, foods and wholesale baking equipment. Whether you read the news on the Internet or via a hard copy of a magazine, consider those specifically geared to the baking industry for the most pertinent information.

I recommend: Modern Baking is a popular magazine in the baking world from Penton Media. It offers a current events and news section that features the current happenings in the baking industry, a section where you can view past issues and several e-newsletters you can subscribe to. For other up to date information, check out Baking Management magazine, also from Penton Media, for information on everything for your baking business.

Find great information about bakery supplies and bakery equipment on public news sites and blogs

Public news websites are an ideal source for information and news. Blogs and other informational sites offer useful facts, news and information about bakery suppliers and other professionals in the bakery supply industry.

I recommend: Pastry Sampler’s Pastry and Bakery News is a blog that gathers and disperses the latest information about the bakery industry. There are also blogs that specialize in different aspects of the baking industry. For cupcakes, check out Cupcakes Take the Cake for the latest trends in the cupcake world.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to complete adequate research on the latest baking news and trends before buying used bakery equipment, it's important to be aware of any recalls or recently found defects.

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Proof box

If you offer any baked goods comprised of dough that must rise as part of the preparation process, you'll need a proof box. The equipment, which can accommodate individual baking trays or entire rolling racks, features a regulated, moist temperature to speed the proofing process.

I recommend: Check out the selection and specifications of proof box styles from roll-in, walk in, pass-through and mobile proofers at Bakery Equipment.

Spiral mixer

Bakery operations creating a high volume of baked goods such as bagels, bread or even cakes, may required a spiral mixer with a hook and motor strong enough to mix up to 560 pounds of dough. You may also want to study the benefits of a tilt-over spiral mixer with a hydraulic lifting mechanism to help remove the dough from the mixer.

I recommend: Learn more about spiral mixer models, including those with stationary and removable bowls plus tilt-over and vertical styles, through Empire Bake.

Dough divider

Once the mixed and raised dough is ready for baking, a dough divider will turn the mass into individual pieces for bagels, rolls or buns. Even a manual model can create multiple pieces at once with minimal effort.

I recommend: Get additional details and description of a manually operated dough divider through Kroslak Bakery Equipment.

Cooling tunnel

If you're creating baked goods with glazes or chocolate coatings, for example, a cooling tunnel can shorten the amount of time it takes to ready the desserts for sale. Cooling tunnels are typically available in different sizes and lengths to accommodate the size of your baking operation.

I recommend: Check out photos and specifications of different types of cooling tunnels through Corio Bakery Equipment.

Deck oven

Discover the benefits of a deck oven for preparing baked goods. Providing consistent and fuel-efficient heat, deck ovens come in gas and oil-fired versions with different timers to regulate the baking needs of each individual deck.

I recommend: Consider additional features of deck ovens through the product descriptions on the Allied Bake website.

Dry topper

When you're creating baked goods-from crackers to bagels to muffins-you may want an industrial dry topper to add condiments such as nuts, coconut or sugary sprinkles to the baked goods. Most units feature removable feed rolls for easy cleaning and containers that make it simple to switch toppings from one batch to the next.

I recommend: Discover information, such as specifications, illustrations and instructions, for Fedco dry topper units at the Peerless Group.