More bread, lower costs: the profitable choice of Nollet

Bakery Nollet is a familiar sight: a couple at the helm, supported by a shop assistant and a skilled baker, all working together to deliver delicious products to their customers. And they do it well. Their secret? Hard work, consistent quality, and always putting the customer first.

From a young age, Maarten Nollet has been passionate about bread and pastry. It was clear early on that his future lay in the bakery world. After primary school, he enrolled at De Groene Poorte in Bruges to learn the craft of baking. During his studies, he interned at several bakeries, including Delecta in Waregem, where he later worked for several years in both the patisserie and bread departments. With this experience under his belt, Maarten and his wife Céline took the leap and started their own bakery adventure in Ingelmunster.

Breathing new life into an old bakery

Ten years ago, Maarten and Céline Nollet took over an outdated bakery in Ingelmunster. Before making the decision, they visited several other bakeries—but everything fell into place in Ingelmunster. The shop is located on a busy shopping street, making it an ideal location. There’s ample parking behind the bakery, the purchase price was right, and the business had real growth potential. All of it aligned perfectly with the dream and vision they had for starting their own bakery.

The equipment in the bakery was just as outdated as the building itself, but it was good enough to get started. Today, they run a modern, efficient bakery where quality and craftsmanship take center stage. A key milestone in their growth was the investment in the Kalmeijer small bread line in 2024.

Efficiency and a solution to staff shortages

The Kalmeijer machine turned out to be the perfect solution to the growing staff shortage. Where it used to take two bakers to produce pistolets and sandwich rolls, Maarten can now do it alone, and faster. This gives his colleagues more time to focus on other products, which benefits both the assortment and the turnover.

Consistent quality with an artisan touch

The machine delivers dough pieces with precisely the right weight, resulting in perfectly shaped rolls with a handcrafted appearance. Thanks to adjustable rounding and resting times, Maarten can easily fine-tune the process for optimal quality. Product consistency has also greatly improved, from crispy pistolets to airy sandwich rolls.

Time savings and ease of use

Dough processing is now smooth and fast. The machine is easy to operate and can be adjusted while running. Maintenance is minimal, weekly cleaning is all it takes. “I used to press dough balls by hand, now I just place them straight onto the tray,” says Maarten. “That’s a real time-saver.”

Ready for the future

The Kalmeijer small bread line not only helps Bakery Nollet work more efficiently, it also ensures the artisanal quality their customers keep coming back for. With this investment, the bakery is well-positioned for further growth, without compromising on craftsmanship.

Maarten Nollet is a great example of how passion, skill, and smart investments can lead to a thriving business. The Kalmeijer small bread line plays a central role in both production efficiency and product quality, while their customer-focused approach continues to drive sustainable growth.