Chef Bitoys Bakery’s sweet success

How often do we hear entrepreneurs say that they started their business solely out of passion? But for the Ledesma family, it was the tragic death of their beloved that gave rise to a small but popular bakery in Jaro - Chef Bitoy’s Bakery.

Chef Bitoy’s Bakery Ube Cheese Roll, a deliciously made moist bread with ube and cheese topping and filling.


Chef Bitoy’s Bakery was named after the late Chef Albert Ledesma, an excellent Ilonggo chef in the Middle East who later went home to Iloilo City to be with his family. However, in 2018 and at the age of 35, he passed away.

"It's heartbreaking losing my brother Albert. I want people to remember him," said his sister Theresse Ledesma-Kerry.

Though saddened and shocked to lose him, the Ledesma family was determined in realizing his ambitions by putting up Chef Bitoy’s Bakery.

Baked Chicken Empanada by Chef Bitoy’s Bakery is another must-try. Their crust is thin, thus you can savor the filling which is quite tasty.


The Rise of Chef Bitoy's Bakery


The bakery is a family-run business. "One of our aims in doing this was to help Albert's wife and his children form a sustainable source of income after the loss of Albert," said Ledesma-Kerry.

Instead of putting up a restaurant, they opted for a bakery. "Largely because we were sensing that there is client interest in better quality and more interesting baked products at a more affordable price than people are currently paying. We figured that we could offer products that meet this demand," Ledesma-Kerry said.

She is proud of their cousin, Dianna Ledesma, the baker. “She came into the business initially to help having had some training in the hospitality sector. She seemed to find a calling in the bakery business and has become truly a foundation stone. She is working on newer products in particular and is learning very fast.”

Dianna used to work in Dubai when Chef Albert was there.

Meanwhile, Chef Bitoy’s two-and-a-half-year-old son Alexander Miguel is developing a natural interest for the bakery, Ledesma-Kerry said.

“He likes to visit the bakery to see what is going on and is excited by the vibe that the business is bringing to the family. He has even participated in some of our promotional advertisements. His elder brother and sister also help during the holiday season when they are out of school,” she narrated.

 
Salted Cheese Ensaymada has a slice of a salted egg as a topping



 A “Digital” Bakery


Thanks to the internet and communication apps, Ledesma-Kerry who is based in Dubai is able to manage the business remotely.

“What is unusual about our business approach is that I am managing the business remotely outside the Philippines. I set the overall direction and help with processing the orders. The team in Iloilo follow through and then deliver to the clients. We work closely together even though we are separated by 7,000 kilometers,” she explained.

One can also see her posting their products in Iloilo’s largest food community on Facebook -- Kaon Ta Iloilo.

“We are truly a digital bakery! We promote our products online more than any other means although we hope to have some physical presence in the city so people can visit us more conveniently. Much of our promotion is also coming through word of mouth; which is, of course, the best way of growing the business.”

Best Valenciana I have tasted so far


Chef Bitoy’s Bakery Bestsellers


They are well-known for their Salted Cheese Ensaymada, Classic Cheese Ensaymada, Ube Cheese Roll, Cheese Roll, Ube Roll, and Otso Grande.  

Ledesma-Kerry believes that each product is unique. "The reason is that for all of our products, we are looking at going beyond the standard fare in the market.  Even for a simple product such as pandesal we are able to provide better texture and flavor."

Their Baked Chicken Empanada is also a hit. "We are pleased with the initial uptake of this product," she said. As of this writing, they sell a box (6 pieces) of Baked Chicken Empanada for P150.

They also offer Valenciana which is rich in ingredients like eggs, meat and liver, chorizo, raisins, sweet bell pepper, and peas.

They offer this on a one-day pre-order basis for now. As of this writing, the prices of their Valenciana are P600 (medium size for 4-5 persons), P750 (large size good for 7-8 persons) and P1500 (XL good for 15 persons).

Chef Bitoy’s Bakery is located in San Isidro, Gran Plains Subdivision, district of Jaro in Iloilo City.  For inquiries and orders, you may visit their Facebook page Chef Bitoy’s Bakery. You may also contact (0917) 1780140 or (0928) 9469848 / 

The late chef Albert Ledesma or Chef Bitoy

Alexander Miguel Ledesma, son of Chef Bitoy is developing a natural interest for the bakery.




Chef Bitoy’s Bakery team


Dianna Ledesma, a baker and the cousin of Chef Bitoy and Theresse, developed their products




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