MADISON, Wis. -- The International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association here is developing a new bakery training course on video, and will preview it at its annual seminar and exposition June 5 to 7 in Baltimore.
The six-part course, which will include videos and workbooks, is targeted for completion by June 1995.
Strong response to the trade association's training program for delis spurred the investment in a bakery training program, said Carol Christison, executive director of IDDA..
"We're doing this at the request of retailers who are using the deli training program, and have been asking us when we're going to do something like it for bakery," she said. The course, a half-million-dollar venture, will be funded by IDDA and industry sponsors, both manufacturers and retailers.
"Retailers have told us they believe video learning is the way to go because they can reach more of their employees less expensively," said Christison. One East Coast retailer has bought IDDA's deli course for each of its 50-some stores because "they can be used during times when business is slow in the store."
The four-module deli training program, introduced last year, has been very successful, Christison said. Like the deli program, the bakery training program will be aimed at store-level employees and emphasizes customer service.
"There are bakery training programs out there, but this one is particularly aimed at the in-store employees a retailer already has. It's designed to teach them the necessary skills for effective bakery department operation," Christison said.
Specific topics will include customer relations, effective sales techniques, merchandising, product knowledge, food safety and sanitation, product care and handling and profit center management.