Improved quality of products and increasing demand:
Need for extension of the bakery in 2018

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The bakers of Thambahal had to master economically difficulties in the first years after founding their 'self-help bakery'. The competition from industrially produced baked goods was overwhelming and the low-budget consumers preferred the low-cost products. In addition, the up to 14-hour power cuts ("load shedding") in the Kathmandu valley, which were common until 2016 without prior notice daily, very often hindered a timely production and delivery of bread, etc. Many customers, especially schools and other regular customers of larger quantities, have not tolerated this during this time and have switched to other products.

The women did not let themselves be discouraged! At the beginning of 2017, it was therefore decided to significantly expand the product range, which up to then consisted mainly of normal toast bread, rolls, some hard biscuits and cakes to order.

Two young master bakers have been hired to conduct a training course in the bakery trade for the women every Sunday mornings for four hours.

The result of this initiative is remarkable: the product range has been significantly improved in terms of both diversity and quality. Customers have immediately acknowledged this and demand has increased so much since 2017 that women also had to improve the distribution of baked goods (delivery to customers). It was then possible to create another job.

Extended range of products - including sweet confectionery - through regular training courses given to the
women by a young bakery team

At the end of 2017, there was a desire to procure another powerful gas oven, a professional kneading machine and also a professional bakery table made of hygienic stainless steel, to adapt the production to the increased demand. Thanks to a special donation, Nepalhilfe Kirtipur was able to fulfil the request in mid-2018. An important side effect of this support is that 3 more jobs could be created for women in the bakery.

The new bakery oven

A professional stainless steel table

The new kneading machine

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Reasons of the project