The Hot Bread Kitchen, 34 years on

 

Upon her family’s return to Fiji, the setting up of three Hot Bread Kitchens in 1982 were made possible through their joint partnerships with two other local businessmen, and Australian partner. Eventually Samisoni Enterprises Limited bought 100% of the shares of the company and through the consistent fulfilment of HBK’s mission of providing the community with freshly baked bread everyday, HBK has expanded to having a chain of 23 bakeries around the Fiji Islands. There’s an HBK shop at every corner and the business is proud to employ over 500 staff throughout Fiji of which more than 50% are women employees including in managerial positions. Last year, HBK won the Employer of Choice for Women award at the premier Women in Business Awards in Fiji.

HBK may have developed to a large business, but it has remained a family business. Now being managed by the Samisoni children, HBK’s present General Manager and Managing Director is their son, Philip. He traveled to Noumea this month as part of the Trade Pasifika mission to represent HBK at the Pacific Business Forum. Philip reveals, “The bakery visits that were organised by PIPSO sounded promising and the business forum was a first for me. In the end, it was extremely fulfilling! I was surprised at how open and welcoming the bakery owners were. It’s the first time I’ve set foot in the behind-the-scene operations of a French bakery, despite living in the country previously. This wouldn’t have been possible without PIPSO’s network and connection with the Noumea Business Chamber and CGPME*. I have PIPSO to thank immensely for this!”

 

 

When we asked Philip what key learnings he was taking back to Fiji that could benefit him personally as well as HBK, he states, “Personally, it was an enriching experience. Professionally, I think the bakery industry in Fiji and our company have the opportunity to grow further and innovate. Teaming up with our French counterparts in New Caledonia could make this easier for products that will suit the local and tourist palate and market.”

So what could be next for HBK? Perhaps an increased product line and one day we might smell some new mouth-watering and sweet aroma wafting from the nearest HBK hot ovens, or maybe store openings in other parts of the Pacific. Whatever it may be, we eagerly wait as HBK’s second generation who is now at the helm of this homegrown business, takes HBK to the next extraordinary level.

 

 

 

FIND OUT MORE