Julie Gandioco: Baking for Success
What’s the difference between an ordinary baker and an extraordinary one? Given the same resources, an ordinary baker is most likely to take out sweet-smelling bread from the kiln while the extraordinary baker, on the other hand, has something greater cooking in the oven: success.
For Julie Gandioco, owner of Julie’s Bakeshop who baked fresh ideas for the industry, both came in easy—producing good quality bread and achieving success in her field—as she had incorporated her initial entrepreneurial gleanings and the value of family solidarity in her current enterprise.
Gandioco, who once worked as a seamstress for relatives, friends, and neighbors and a canteen concessionaire while still in high school, had only two major priorities in life: her family and business. When she established the first store of Julie’s Bakeshop in Cebu in 1981, she concocted these priorities and got a sweeter slice of life.
“I am very proud of my children. Since day one, they have been there helping me to make possibilities for our business. All was involved thus we moved forward,” said Gandioco, pointing out that while she started the business, her husband and five children were the movers.
Gandioco’s brainchild has benefited millions, especially those with a sweet tooth for merienda, by providing an alternative to high-end breads and pastries. She has made her business ubiquitous as there seems to be a Julie’s branch present in every corner.
To date, there are 514 branches of Julie’s Bakeshop nationwide. All Julie’s Bakeshops offer a vast variety of snacks hunger-solvers, from ensaymadas to mamons to macaroons, cakes and empanadas. The shops, according to Gandioco, ensure that the ingredients they use are only the finest and that foodstuffs are produced in a clean environment.
Recently, Julie won, for the second time, the Outstanding Filipino Franchise of the Year from the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA). The franchise is now elevated to the PFA Hall of Fame, joining an elite circle of past winners such as Jollibee, McDonalds, Bench, Marks and Spencer and Max’s Restaurant.
Gandioco said she ultimately owes the success of Julie’s to her family, especially her children who were guided by her principles of being unity in whatever undertaking, and fostering warm customer and employee relations.
“You must have the patience and heart to handle them,” she said. “My first baker who has been with us for all our 25 years is still treating our patrons goodies fresh from the oven.”
On June 26, the 75-year-old Gandioco, who remains hands-on in dealing with her business, will be conferred by the Philippine Center of Entrepreneurship the award of most inspiring Cebuano entrepreneur at the Go Negosyo Entrepreneurship Conference, the latest leg of the continuing Go Negosyo campaign spearheaded by Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III, slated in her hometown at the Cebu International Convention Center.
The Go Negosyo sa Cebu, which is chaired by Jay Aldeguer, owner of the famous Islands Souvenirs, is the first destination of the Go Negosyo Caravan, which brings Go Negosyo forums and expositions in key cities outside Metro Manila.
In partnership with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) through the support of CCCI President Francis Monera and Consul Sam Chioson, the Go Negosyo sa Cebu is part of the month-long celebration of the Cebu Business Month.
(Published, The Philippine Star, June 17, 2007)
