The most popular confectionery product purchased by Russians for tea can be safely called cookies.
Most consumers in our country buy it regularly, both spontaneously, capturing it on the way to the checkout, and planning a purchase in advance, before going to the supermarket.
The production of various types of biscuits totals more than 900 tons per year in our country, and the market demand not only remains at a high level, but also grows steadily - annually by 8-10%. Of course, the competition here is considerable, because the business is profitable.
Moreover, both large confectionery factories and small producers coexist at the same time, which in this specific segment can successfully compete for the tastes and loyalty of consumers. Today, the confectionery niche is almost completely filled, but there is still room for new players, whose products with a competent approach and high quality can take their corner on the shelf of the grocery store, and then place on the table of the end consumer. We will try to talk about how to organize our own production of cookies, which can win a share on the counter with confectionery products, in this article.
The main steps for organizing a mini-shop for the manufacture of cookies
Unlike a number of other products, where it is not easy for small companies to compete with the giants of the market, in the confectionery business, in particular in the manufacture of cookies, success can quickly come to small-scale production. The most important thing here is the quality, taste, assortment and the presence of that particular highlight that will attract the attention of consumers to the product.
Therefore, boldly rely on the fact that your own mini-shop for the production of cookies can easily turn into a successful, cost-effective and profitable business. However, in spite of such bright prospects, one will have to work hard to be able to express oneself from the best side. To do this, you first need to draw up a business plan in which the following points will be reflected and carefully thought out:
- type and range of products;
- technology for the production of cookies, stages;
- equipment (what, in what quantity);
- premises for the organization of the workshop;
- sales of production (channels);
- calculation of costs and expected profits.
All these issues are significant, and it is their correct decision that affects the final result - the quality of the finished cookies, the availability of demand and, as a result, profit.
We determine the assortment of our workshop
There are a lot of types of cookies. Depending on the technology, as well as the composition (sugar and fat content), dough of various properties can be obtained. Butter is especially popular, from which a variety of cookies is made: sand-dredged, which is sweeter and fatter, and sand-jig - less greasy and plastic.
As a result, you will have a very wide assortment (sugar, lingering, crackers and biscuits, etc.), which can be further diversified in shape, size, finish, various fillings and additives. To determine what type of product to offer consumers, you can use a survey of the buyers themselves and analysis of the market, competitors in your area.
See what others are doing and do something new. Or the old one, but in a new interpretation - with unexpected fillings, combinations, other forms and original presentation.If the consumer notices and appreciates your cookies, then the trump card is in your hands.
Technology and production stages
No matter what type of cookie you make and what its recipe is, all the basic steps are almost the same. How are cookies manufactured? The stages of this process can be divided into the following:
- raw material preparation;
- kneading and dough formation;
- baking and cooling;
- packaging.
The following ingredients are usually used for dough preparation: premium flour, sugar, fats, egg powder, melange, baking powder, flavorings and various additives. Depending on the type of product, nuts, dried fruits, poppy seeds and sesame seeds, jams, condensed milk and more can be used. The need for certain components you will determine together with the technologist, having developed the assortment and choosing the recipe for each type of cookie.
Cookies Stages
The cooking process is as follows:
- all ingredients are weighed and put into the kneading machine in a certain sequence (kneading takes 15 minutes);
- then egg powder / mélange is added, as well as water and, if necessary, condensed milk (stirring continues for about 10 minutes);
- at the very end, syrup, sifted flour, starch is added (kneads for another 5 minutes);
- the resulting dough is divided into parts that are rolled into layers - of which, using special forms or rotational molding machines, individual portions are cut out;
- cookies are baked in ovens and cooled;
- if necessary, glaze, a layer is applied, various drawings and other decorations are made;
- Cookies are packed (in batches or in batches, in cardboard boxes, bags, etc.).
In general, this is how cookies are produced - the whole process from start to finish. There is nothing complicated in it, but you can master the technology in a few days with a good specialist technologist. The specifics of each stage may vary depending on whether it is carried out manually or using special equipment. We will talk about him further.
Equipment necessary for the organization of a mini-workshop
As mentioned above, some stages of the manufacture of cookies (for example, molding) can be carried out manually. This largely determines what equipment for the production of cookies is necessary to purchase, and which can be dispensed with. For a mini-workshop, it is permissible to include “manual stages” in the process, because the volumes here are not as large as in large factories. Nevertheless, each workshop should have the following positions:
- flour sifter;
- mixer operator / mixer;
- dough sinking machine;
- rotary / convection oven;
- refrigeration equipment;
- apparatus for packaging.
In addition, a glazing line and other accessories may be needed. If possible, it is better to use not Russian, but European equipment for cookies. For example, Italian molding machines are of higher quality and wide functionality, which will expand the product range and improve its appearance. Of great importance is a correctly selected furnace.
Search for premises for a mini-workshop
What is important is where your cookie production will be located. The selection of a suitable room should be given no less attention than the purchase of equipment. Since cookies are food products, the various nuances of its manufacture (how, on what, where, in what conditions) are regulated by Rospotrebnadzor. A number of mandatory requirements are presented to the production workshop:
- the area should be sufficient to accommodate the entire set of equipment on it, as well as the organization of storage and domestic premises (rooms for staff, the office of the director and accountant, shower and toilet);
- repairs must comply with the requirements of sanitary rules (you can find out more about them in the sanitary and epidemiological surveillance);
- the premises must comply with fire safety standards;
- on the territory of the confectionery workshop all communications (sewerage, water supply, electricity) should be carried out.
For the beginner workshop, it is possible to rent production areas in the territory of a catering enterprise, if there are free ones. In addition, the landlord may have some of the equipment you need. This will help to reduce costs at the very beginning, and with a favorable development of affairs - to move to an independent room.
Channels for the sale of products of the mini-workshop
As already mentioned, the demand in this segment of the confectionery market is quite high, despite the large number of small and large producers. Therefore, you can safely claim a share in it. It is better to sell the products of your workshop through several channels, which include:
- wholesale companies selling products to retail companies;
- grocery chains - regional and federal;
- HoReCa sphere (supply to cafes and restaurants).
For each of these channels there can be either a separate product range or the same (but in different volumes and packaging).
The financial plan for the opening of a mini-shop for the manufacture of cookies
Initial investments in organizing our own mini-workshop are mainly related to the acquisition of equipment. Good equipment, especially foreign production, is not cheap. However, once you invest a significant amount in a high-quality molding machine, furnace and other devices, you can use their power for a long time and reap the result of work. On average, equipment for a mini-workshop will cost from 500-600 thousand rubles. In addition, the main items of expenditure should include:
- rent (depending on area) - up to 150 thousand rubles;
- staff remuneration (7-10 people) - up to 150-200 thousand rubles;
- transportation, utilities and other expenses - up to 100 thousand rubles;
- purchase of raw materials - depending on the volume of production.
Naturally, the larger the production, the more significant the costs, but the revenue is greater. In this case, we are talking about a small workshop, which on average will be able to produce up to 15 tons of cookies per month. The wholesale price of one ton of products is about 40 thousand rubles, which means that the monthly revenue will reach about 600 thousand rubles. And net profit will be about 150 thousand minus all expenses.
When will it pay off?
The profitability of the production of cookies with a favorable outcome is approximately 20-25%. And the initial investment will pay off in less than a year (7-10 months). If the investments are higher, the payback period can increase up to two years, since the cost of equipment for large-scale production reaches an amount of several million rubles, which will be much longer transferred to the finished product.
Summarizing
Thus, a mini-workshop for a novice cookie manufacturer with minimal experience is most preferred. Small production - more flexible, cost-effective and much easier in terms of control over maintaining high quality products.
