Searching for the right balance between comfort and quality every day

Carl Brodin has worked as a baker and pastry chef since he was 16. He and his wife opened their own bakery in Rennes in 2015. A second branch was added a year ago, and now a third branch is about to open. “By growing the business bigger, we can hire more people; this frees up time to manage the business better. For us, it is no longer only about producing but also about managing. This requires confidence in our people and in the products we work with. When a consistently high quality can be provided by our ingredients, like the Debic range, I can confidently leave the work to our employees.”

Carl Brodin has worked as a baker and pastry chef since he was 16. He and his wife opened their own bakery in Rennes in 2015. A second branch was added a year ago, and now a third branch is about to open. “By growing the business bigger, we can hire more people; this frees up time to manage the business better. For us, it is no longer only about producing but also about managing. This requires confidence in our people and in the products we work with. When a consistently high quality can be provided by our ingredients, like the Debic range, I can confidently leave the work to our employees.”

Cost

As an entrepreneur, Brodin is constantly trying to make smart choices. On the one hand, to get the work done quickly and efficiently, and on the other, to keep the costs low where possible. “We can’t just start making things like we used to and stick an arbitrary price on it. These days, everything has to be right for the consumer. But you also have to take into account rising prices for energy, staff and raw materials, for example. We are looking for ingredients that allow us to make high-quality products relatively quickly without having to charge exorbitant prices. Finding a happy medium is a major challenge.”

Producing differently

For Brodin, making smart choices is also about different production techniques. Using smart recipes to make larger quantities, for example. Opting for standardised products that are easy to make or enlisting the help of machines. “This includes dosing machines, pasteurisers and other tools that help us to produce on a larger scale, ultimately saving time and money.”

The choice of ingredients also plays an important role when it comes to smart production. “We choose some products because of their specific quality. I am thinking of butter, for example. We choose a certain type of butter for its plasticity, so we can make croissants more easily with it.”

Stand and firmness

Brodin also chooses Debic Stand & Overrun. “Once I have whipped this product, I have a large mass. It has an excellent volume. The product’s stand is also perfect, and it remains stable even when a product is stored in the freezer. The shelf life is longer, and the cream never collapses. Debic Stand & Overrun allowed me to adjust my recipes, so that I can make products that last longer - in the freezer and in our shops. That, too, is a smart choice!”