Cybake reduces errors, cuts payroll and boosts efficiency at Zeppole Baking Company
In our latest video, we visit Zeppole Baking Company in Boise, Idaho, to talk to owner Charles Alpers about how Cybake modernized his wholesale and retail business.
Zeppole Baking Company was founded in 1993 by a former attorney who trained in Europe to bring artisan bread to Boise.
At the time, local options were mostly mass-produced, machine-made breads, so the bakery quickly gained a loyal following, especially among Europeans who recognized the handmade loaves from their home countries.
In 2006, Charles and Alison Alpers, both from hospitality backgrounds, took over the bakery and continued its artisan tradition. As well as operating the bakery and café, they grew Zeppole Baking Company’s wholesale business and now employ a team of 35 with nearly 100 clients across the region.
Their bakery is known for its sourdough loaves as well as pastries, scones, and a banana bread that’s shipped out of state to loyal customers as far away as Hawaii and Virginia. But as the business grew, operations became more difficult to manage.
“Our customers used to place their orders by calling or emailing us, and we had someone in the office full-time just to take those orders,” Charles explains.
“Our bakers were doing all the formula calculations by hand. It only takes one misplaced decimal point and the whole batch is off. There were mistakes, inefficiencies, and way too much paperwork.”
At the time, bakery management software wasn’t even on the company’s radar.
“We didn’t know anything about bakery software programs,” Charles admits. “Then a former manager of ours told us about a system he’d used somewhere else and said it would improve efficiency, reduce errors, and even save us payroll costs.”
Options
After reviewing a few options, Charles found that Cybake stood out.
“They didn’t try to sell us something generic,” he says. “They wanted to understand our business and build something that worked for us. That’s what made us go with them.”
The results were immediate, says Charles: “We were able to eliminate a full-time position that was taking phone and email orders. Now our customers can place their orders anytime, day or night, using an app on their phone or tablet.”
The bakery’s production process also became far more efficient.
“Our bakers used to calculate everything manually. Now, Cybake prints out all the formulas and production sheets for us. They just walk in, look at what needs to be done, and start mixing. It’s accurate, it’s consistent, and it saves us from a lot of headaches.”
Charles is quick to highlight how Cybake improved not just operations, but peace of mind.
“Cybake integrates directly with our QuickBooks, which is a huge time-saver. And our weekend manager can log in remotely and get things done without driving into the bakery.”
Just as important has been the support behind the software.
“Their customer service is bar none,” he says. “If we have a question, they’re always there, whether it’s something technical or just training a new manager. We even pay a little extra to get one-on-one training sessions with their team in York or Denver, and they send us recordings to refer back to.”
For a bakery deeply rooted in tradition, adopting technology could have felt like a big leap. But for Zeppole, it’s helped them keep doing what they love without getting buried in admin.
“Cybake has taken a huge weight off our shoulders,” Charles says. “We didn’t even know something like this existed. Now, we couldn’t go back.”
Want to find out how Cybake could improve efficiency, cut admin and increase sales in your bakery? Get a demo today!
Catherine Thomas is the digital marketing executive at Cybake.
