Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Hot cross bun sales have surprisingly surged this year at some bakeries in south Trinidad.
Gregory Laing, owner of Puff N’ Stuff Bakery at Circular Road, San Fernando, said his price rose by $1 this year from $44 to $45 for six buns. However, rather than discouraging patrons, Laing said there was a bumper sale of hot cross buns this year.
He said he changed his sales strategy by offering individual buns and double portions priced at $10 and $20 respectively. Laing also offered a 10 per cent discount to schools and religious institutions.
“Usually we sell the buns by the dozen and half a dozen but this year we packaged them differently to offer another option to the customer,” he explained.
Laing said he also added an emulsifier to his bun for added freshness.
“We have absorbed most of the rising costs and we are seeing the benefits of that. Our quality has also improved because the recipe is tweaked as we are now using emulsifiers in buns, which keeps buns a lot softer,” he revealed.
They also reduced the size of dough batches.
“When you are doing a big production we use 200 pounds of flour at a time and we get 1,800 buns but now we are using only 100 pounds of flour per batch of 900 buns. That way we can control the dough so it doesn’t over-raise. When the dough over-raises, the buns are airy so we are limiting the size of the batch to provide the best quality,” he explained
Laing said hot cross buns have been an integral part of Easter celebrations and many companies purchase the buns for their employees.
“The buns are an Easter tradition which many people look forward to,” he added.
Several other bakeries kept prices down. Tasty Illusions at Wellington Road, Debe, sold half a dozen buns for $36, while Monique’s Kitchen sold their buns for $56 a dozen.
Owner of Tasty Illusions Nichelle Rampersad: “We are selling to supermarkets and our buns are in demand this year . . . Many companies are ordering for employees as well. This year the sales have definitely been better.”
Rampersad said their prices for buns and other pastries have stayed the same.