Nien-Tsu Chen, chairman of the Nien-Tsu Group, stated that this is an experimental demonstration store. The group hopes to discover the successful formula for a new business model and assist clients in seizing business opportunities! Photo/Liu Fu-yu
Targeting "post-pandemic era" consumer demand, major baking ingredient manufacturer Nan Chiao has integrated resources from its subsidiaries including frozen dough, quick-frozen cooked noodles, baking oils, frying oils, ice cream, Paulaner Western cuisine, and beer. They have opened Taiwan's first community-based bakery and restaurant complex in the Guandu MRT station commercial district, making its debut. Nan Chiao Group Chairman Chen Fei-lung stated in an interview that this is an experimental demonstration store, aimed at finding a successful formula for a new business model to help clients accelerate their transformation and seize new business opportunities!
Chen Feilong believes that the pandemic has brought about changes in consumption patterns and commercial district structures, and community stores will become the next trend in the baking and catering industries. The purpose of this store is to experiment with how to provide customers with "solutions" through Nanqiao's existing resources, allowing customers to expand their business models under current conditions and thereby increase their revenue sources. This store also serves as a demonstration for Nanqiao to find new avenues for its tens of thousands of baking and catering customers, making it quite significant.
It is understood that the store took four months to build and began its trial operations on December 25, 2020. Despite no advertising, it has garnered significant attention from local residents, with initial customer traffic and revenue showing positive results. The key lies in establishing a unique identity.
It is understood that the overall decoration and design of the store were personally supervised by Chen Feilong, including the coordination of light color temperature, the selection of environmentally friendly materials, the change of guest area air conditioning from top-blowing to side-blowing, and how balcony plants are integrated into the community, with every detail being meticulously considered.
In addition, the meals also have creative touches. Besides classic dishes from Paulaner, such as German pork knuckle, German sausages, pasta, fried items, and other Western dishes and beers, there are also the most important elements of a community store - integrating local characteristics, such as Guandu-style two-color fried rice, Guandu-style salted duck egg pizza, Guandu-style century egg and lean pork congee, and a specially planned bread area with fresh bread baked four times daily. All of the above dishes can be combined with Namchow's products.
It's worth mentioning that Nanqiao's opening of new community-based composite stores is not aimed at "expanding stores," but rather at helping clients open more profitable stores. Chen Feilong said that the biggest challenge in the baking and catering industries is manpower. With the trend of an aging population and declining birthrate, and increasingly stringent labor regulations, the pressure of personnel costs will only grow. At the same time, the pandemic has also brought about impacts. Store formats that previously focused on prime locations and high foot traffic are being tested. In contrast, community store formats are closer to consumers, can serve local regular customers, and their businesses are more sustainable.
It is understood that shortly after the store opened, people wanted Nanqiao to open more branches. However, Chen Feilong said that helping clients open such hybrid stores gives him "more a sense of accomplishment" than Nanqiao opening them itself. Clients can choose the store model and menu items demonstrated in this store according to their needs, and there is also a comprehensive consulting service. This will be progressively promoted to its clients this year. Whether it's food and beverage businesses wanting to enter the baking industry or baking businesses wanting to enter the food and beverage industry, they can find new business opportunities through this new business model, making the entire industry's pie bigger and promoting industrial transformation and upgrading!
