Guide to Bakery Equipment and Baking Supplies

Our day's daily bread hasn't come out of the kitchen in years. Nearly all the breads, pastries, pies and other baked goods we consume come from bakery equipment operated by professional, full-scale bakers for local and national distribution.

Buying bakery equipment and baking supplies is not so simple a task, however. The range of bakery gear runs from corner doughnut shop to industrial strength. In this food service equipment guide you will learn:

1. Bakery ovens and other equipment can vary dramatically in size, cost and purpose.
2, Small shops like cafes and corner stores have special baking needs of their own.
3. Bakery recipes require dozens of oils, agents and more specialized food service supplies
4. Besides bakery ovens, special containers and other food service equipment are needed for mixing, chilling and preparing baked goods.
5. Check used food service equipment dealers and food service equipment lease offers before you buy.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

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.

Tips & Tactics
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.

The official source of Bakery Equipment and Baking Supplies is
the Bakery Equipment page at Business.com