PROJECT

PLANT VISIT

Reynaldo S. Angara, MBA Candidate

Our class went to Gardenia plant last September 11, 2015. The first activity we
had was the introduction of the company wherein we watched a short video presentation
to discover more about Gardenia. When we toured the plant, I found the plant very
secured and the bread machineries were really huge. I was amazed with their advance
bread making technology and the system theyve implemented on how they distribute the
products that made them proud to become one of the most highly innovated bread making
company in our industry today. When I was still a little kid, there was a bakery in the
neighbourhood and almost every day, I see perspiring bakers preparing breads in their
dimly lit place. The Gardenia plant was gazillions different from the bakery I saw in my
youth. Another amazing part of this tour was to discover the distribution system to
ensure that breads are really fresh when it reach the consumers. As Gardenia follows its
international policy of keeping only fresh stocks on the store shelves. As soon as products
come out of the factory, delivery vans leave the production plant as early as 4 oclock in
the morning to bring the products to the specific locations in the country, in different
supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores and sari-sari stores. Replacing unsold
breads in store shelves with only freshly baked top-quality products, during each day of
delivery, is a Gardenia practice no one can match. The plant tour was indeed a learning
experience and it was also interesting to note that the last time I had an educational tour
like this was when I was in my elementary days. It only shows that learning never stops

as a child. Education is indeed a continuous learning. The plant tour was also an
affirmation of all the things we learned in class.

Zarvie-An Arcega, MBA Candidate

I may not be able to attend a plant tour due to an important client meeting in
Taguig, but I know that Gardenia Company offers a wide array of superior bakery
products including white, wheat and health breads, flavored loaves, pandesal and snack
items like snack cakes, muffins and toasts. Gardenia breads are known for their good
taste, freshness, softness, oven-baked aroma and nutritive value.
Gardenia, being a consumer-focused and branded food company, is singularly
driven in delivering superior consumer value through providing consumers with superior
products. The Gardenia trademark means value and is respected all over Asia.
The reason behind Gardenia's success is no secret; it is the people who made Gardenia
what it is today and the goal of sustaining Gardenias leadership and excellence. Our
enthusiasm to serve constitutes the yeast that raises the dough and with this, Gardenia
will continue to take the lead.

Masarapkahitwalangpalaman!

Janice T. Buenavista, MBA Candidate

Gardenia, the leading manufacturer of superior quality bakery products has started
operations in the Philippines way back 1997. Since then, it has earned vast awards given
by International Organizations. Truly enough because the company offers a wide array of
bread products, known for its freshness, softness, good aroma, and nutritive value that
has captured the senses of every Filipino. In fact it has a popular tagline of Masarap
kahit walang palaman and So good you can even eat it on its own has earned the
loyalty to its customers and overall market acceptance.
Given the opportunity to tour the plant facility made us see the modern scale
facility, highly automated equipment, accommodating tour staff and its extensive
distribution system. The plant in Laguna is the biggest plant they have in the country as
it can produce 6,000 loaves in an hour with a six days a week production. Just imagine
how they manage to produce this number of units in such a little time, and how these are
distributed to channels and as far as provincial areas right away. To maintain its aroma
and freshness, they see to it that items are replaced on a regular basis. They use a unique
color tagging to know the age of the item that is being assigned with a particular color.

The plant is a highly automated one, with less intervention of humans. I thought it once
as a large factory with many bakers in it. But that was not the case. Only workers who
are in supervision of the machines were there. You can see a smooth flow of the entire
process, from raw materials, to fermentation, to mixing, cutting, cooking and cooling
down to final inspection and packing then to distribution.
Gardenias success was due to continued loyalty and support of its customers.
Given its commitment, leadership and excellence in providing quality baked products as
well as in taking initiatives towards social responsibility. Gardenia will take its lead in
great number of years.

Kristel Cruz, MBA Candidate

Location: Gardenia Philippines Inc. Laguna Intl Industrial Park (LIIP)

MamplasanBinan, Laguna
Date: September 11, 2015
The Gardenia Plant Tour allowed me to understand and evaluate classroom
discussion versus actual business production and operations.
First, Gardenia has a good facility location. They are located in the industrial
parks in Laguna where most of the manufacturing companies are located.
Second, Gardenias modern bread manufacturing plant proves products quality.
The company is an ISO 9001:2008 certified which means that they follow standard
procedures in their production. The dough mixture is made without any human contact,
the people stationed on the factory floor are just there to removed reject products and
perform maintenance. Gardenia follows its international policy of keeping only fresh
stocks on the store shelves. The evidence of products freshness is their 24/6 operations
that ensures product delivered to the market are bake within the day and also the G-lock

7-day color coding system which assigns particular color to a certain day of production
which allows customers to know the breads freshness: The color coding guide are as
follows: TOYGRBW: Tan/Orange/Yellow/Blue/Green/Red/White). The companys
HACCP certification provides assurance to consumer that all Gardenia breads are safe to
eat and is produced in a hygienic and pest-free environment.

Third, Gardenia has a systematic production floor. The production floor follows
Product Oriented Layout which uses standardized processing operations to achieve
smooth, rapid, high-volume flow and Work Cell Layout - U-shaped which can reduce
employee movement and space requirements while enhancing communication, reducing
the number of workers, and facilitating inspection to maximize the use of space and
movement of personnel.
Fourth, Gardenias unique distribution system is also one of the great advantages
of the company. Gardenia delivery vans distribute the products to groceries,
supermarkets and convenience stores and also they replace unsold products (two day old
bread) with new ones to ensure products freshness.
Lastly, Gardenia maximizes their by-product by selling it to fishpond owners.
This move not only increase companys revenues but also supports other business
operations.
Overall, Plant Tour provided great understanding of production and operations
management.

Arnold Dacuma, MBA Candidate

Gardenia, maker of premium bread in the Philippines produces thousands of bread

from its 3 production plants in the country.
We were able to get a tour of the Gardenia production and were able to see the
number of equipment that the company is using to produce those thousands of bread. The
tour started with a video presentation stating the history of the company, current
production, processes and equipment of the plant.
The plant visit was so relevant to our subject ADVANCED PRODUCTION
AND OPERATION MANAGEMENT, giving us the experience to see actual production
processes and layout.

Joshua De Vera, MBA Candidate

On September 11, 2015, we conducted a Plant Tour in Advanced Production and

Operations Management at Gardenia Centre, Star Avenue, Laguna International Park,
Bian, Laguna. Based on my observation at Gardenia Centre at Sta. Rosa, Laguna Ive
seen in their manufacturing plant. The overall plant was good, the management really
planned in deciding for the location of their manufacturing plant and an excellent place
for manufacturing production, is a place where create an atmosphere of a good working
place and is in a perfect ambiance with a quiet environment and is away from the
pollutions and the personnel and factory workers at the Gardenia Centre are properly
trained and very accommodating.

We went straight to our first destination at Gardenia Bakeries in Laguna where

different taste of bread made. After we arrived at Gardenia, we had our time to eat lunch,
relax, taking pictures, and retouch. But after a few minutes the film started and we were
turning off our cellphones inside the factory, prohibiting taking photos and videos inside
the plant. We watched about five or ten minutes about the history of gardenia, the process
of production up to the finished product. And after the film showing we went to the
production and we saw the machineries and their facilities that were going to be used for
making bread. Take note that the ingredients, dough, and bread are never touched by
human hands. We saw how this machine can divide and mix the flour and other
ingredients. As we move along, this machine cuts and divides the dough into round
shapes. This ensures that all bread weights the same and note that this is done by an
automated machine and not by human hands. There's actually a sensor that double-checks
if all dough gets the same volume. After which, the dough will be placed in a rectangular
pan and baked to perfection. By this time, the bread is almost ready to be consumed but,
of course, it had to be sliced equally and packed properly. In this machine, the special GLock is also attached which is unique to Gardenia only. These plastic locks are color
coordinated depending on the day of its production which helps consumers easily identify
and ensure the freshness of the bread.
The last stop is the Distribution Centre where the freshly baked Gardenia breads
gets stored and later on sent to its distributors all over the country. Gardenia Bakeries
actually have a huge distribution network as it covers the entire Luzon archipelago,
Eastern and Western parts of Visayas and even in some parts of Mindanao. To ensure that
their customers from the Visayas and Mindanao regions get freshly baked Gardenia

breads too, they have opened a plant in Cebu to cover the market in Cebu, Bohol and in
the northern parts of Mindanao.
The Plant Tour were very interesting and knowledgeable especially when they've shown
us how they prepare and made those great tasting bread that made them famous and lastly
Im Overwhelmed and thankful because I experienced this plant tour with the helped of
my classmates and to our professor Dr. Edgar Moreno Sr.

Richneil Dela Torre, MBA Candidate

We were greeted upon our arrival and I was quite surprised to see quite a number
of people also taking their tours, mostly students.
Gardenia started retail operations back in 1999 when it shipped out its first batch
of freshly made breads. It initially encountered some difficulties at retail outlets because
of its innovative display strategies as well as their insistence on replacing the two day old
bread with new ones at no cost. Thats all in the past, as consumers and retailers alike
have embraced the brand and propelled it to the top spot in the Philippine market.

The first activity we had was the introduction of the company wherein we
watched a short video presentation to discover more about Gardenia. From my
understanding, the company also has operations in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
The only difference is the variants of breads that they offering like pan-de-salis a Filipino
trademark.
We toured the plant, it was much secured and the bread machineries were really
huge. I salute their advance bread making technology and the system theyve
implemented on how they distribute the products that made them proud to become one of
the most highly innovated bread making company in our industry today.
The dough mixture until it becomes a breadis made without any human contact,
the people stationed don the factory floor are just there to removed reject products and
perform maintenance.
The freshly baked loaf are then moved to the bread cooling towers. The cooling
tower has a minimum of barriers allowing people to view the magnificent sight which
also helps cool the bread aside from the visual impact. The conveyors are moved using
rollers which are virtually noiseless and uses lots lets energy than the previous one
theyve had.
The cooled bread are the sliced, packaged and then sealed using the unique GLock system, which assigns a particular color to a certain days production, allowing
consumers to easily know the breads freshness.
After packaging, the finished products are then sent to the distribution center for
loading into their fleet of trucks.

I really admire the production which is made without any human contact. This
greatly lessens the margin of error or mistakes which is highly shunned in the food
industry.

Joel Manalo, MBA Candidate

Best known for their fragrant white flowers, gardenias are heat-loving evergreen
shrubs that have become a gardening symbol in the Southeast. Another common name is
cape jasmine.
Plant gardenias near a deck or window where you can enjoy the flowers'
fragrance. The plants grow from 2 to 8 feet tall and wide, depending on the variety. Most
gardenias grow into a round shape with dark green, glossy leaves and white, fragrant

flowers that bloom from mid-spring into summer. Avoid planting gardenias near a
concrete walk or foundation where the pH maybe too high for good growth.
The National Gardening Association is a well-known and widely recognized
authority on the consumer lawn and garden market in the U.S. We have provided market
research services to companies in the lawn and garden business for more than 25 years.
During this time we have conducted numerous research studies for the leading companies
in our industry that have helped them develop their business, make better informed
decisions, and become more profitable. Having worked in this industry for many years
we know both the consumer and the market intimately and use a variety of market
research approaches to produce results that are accurate, complete, and actionable. Our
services include research design, survey development, data collection, and tabulation of
results, analysis, and presentation of findings. We regularly conduct both quantitative and
qualitative research studies including: National Gardening Survey Research, Industry
Studies, Association Surveys, On-Line Research, Telephone Surveys, and Focus Groups.
As competition for sales in the consumer lawn and garden market continue to
become greater every year, the role of market research to help companies maintain and
increase sales and their market share has become more important. Our research has
helped companies improve their advertising, sales presentations, brand awareness,
positioning, product development, strategic planning, investor relations, mail-order
catalogs, web-sites, and more.
We were able to get a tour of the Gardenia production and were able to see the
number of equipment that the company is using to produce those thousands of bread. The

tour started with a video presentation stating the history of the company, current
production, processes and equipment of the plant.

Rowell C. Marasigan, MBA Candidate

Ive never been into plant tour since High School. During those years, we were
able to visit several places like paper mills, soft drink companies, chocolate factories and
so forth. This time, it was really an exciting tour wherein were going to visit Gardenia,

the ever famous bread making company in our country at Laguna Industrial Park (LIIP),
Bian, Laguna.
As we alight our vans, we saw a huge welcome banner and staffs from Gardenia
Bakeries (Philippines) Inc. The first activity we had was the introduction of the company
wherein we watched a short video presentation to discover more about Gardenia. From
my understanding, the company also has operations in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
The only difference is the variants of breads that they offering like pan de sal is a Filipino
trademark.
We toured the plant, it was very secured and the bread machineries were really
huge. I salute their advance bread making technology and the system theyve
implemented on how they distribute the products that made them proud to become one of
the most highly innovated bread making company in our industry today. As they envision
to become know of providing high quality products nationwide, Gardenia has become
popular on the classic white bread which is cholesterol free and bromate free. The breads
that have vitamins and minerals, have zero transfat and continuing producing good
quality of variants that will ensure the consumers that the breads theyre selling are really
freshly made.
Another amazing part of this tour was to discover the distribution system to
ensure that breads are really fresh when it reach the consumers. As Gardenia follows its
international policy of keeping only fresh stocks on the store shelves. As soon as products
come out of the factory, delivery vans leave the production plant as early as 4 oclock in
the morning to bring the products to the specific locations in the country, in different
supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores and sari-sari stores. Replacing unsold breads

in store shelves with only freshly baked top-quality products, during each day of delivery,
is a Gardenia practice no one can match.
Gardenias real power of advertisement captured each of every Filipinos heart.
Ikanga, masarapkahitwalangpalaman slogan has garnered a lot of attention and today,
we really love Gardenia breads from White Bread (available in 600 and 400 grams), High
Fiber Wheat Bread, High Calcium Milk Bread, Honey Oat Loaf, Sugar Free 12 Grain
Loaf, and specialty loaves like California Raisin Loaf, Chocolate Chip Loaf, Double
Delights Loaf, Black Forest Loaf, Slim N Fit Wheaten Bread, Wheat Raisin,
Butterscotch and Gardenias Mini Wonders line (225 gm personal loaf versions of
Gardenias flavored loaf breads)Double Delights Loaf, Mongo Loaf, and Ube loaf.
Pandesal, Whole Wheat Bun, Hotdog and Hamburger buns, Toasts, and single-serve
snack items such as filled buns, twiggies, muffins, toast breads and cream rolls.Too many
variants, and all of them were really delicious.
In this plant tour, we saw the application of the topics that we discussed in
Advanced Production and Operations Management.

Sally Nio, MBA Candidate

Gardenia is one of the company known all over the world in producing quality
bread. Last September 11, 2015, we were able to visit the said manufacturing firm.Upon

arrival, I saw many students going out the plant which also having their plant tour. The
plant is quite big and clean. Several delivery trucks were park in the parking space and
you could smell the aroma of newly baked bread.
Here comes a beautiful lady in red polo shirt who called us and guide in entering
the building where the plant was .Inside the room, there was a big screen in frontof the
chairs. The place looks like a theatre room. After they introduced themselves, a short film
was shown to us, the story is all about how Gardenia started and how the bread was made
from raw materials till it became a real bread without using human hands. .After a short
movie, question and answer was done. The Gardenia team were all accommodating on all
our queries.
The next move is the tour to the actual plant. While the tour is ongoing, a lady
Who guided us and discussed how the machine works, I saw a huge machine down the
plant and two operators.. Yes its true, I saw with my two eyes that operators did not
touch even in packing area. Guests were not allowed to see the plant in a near distance,.
We were in the upper floor with a big window covered by glass.

After we finished, we proceed to their store. Different flavor of breads are seen
which are ready for sale. All of us including our professor, Dr. Moreno bought their
bread. They were giving 10% discount to all the guests. This tour enhanced our
knowledge on how the products was made from the time that raw materials put into
process up to the time it was packed and ready to put in a storage ladder. Based on my
observation, the products are really prepared in a very wholesome manner.

Nuy-Ayra Pebanco, MBA Candidate

I am very much aware of Gardenia as this what my mom would buy for us.
Personally, I like the wheat and raisins slice bread as its satisfies my taste buds. Ive
always been curious how they make their breads and the speed it takes knowing that they
have supply a huge quantity every day. Well, this trip is a perfect opportunity for me to

learn more about the Gardenia. I found the tour interesting and knowledgeable especially
when they have shown us how they prepare and made those tasting bread that made them
famous. I saw how this machine can divide and mix the flour and other ingredients. All
breads done by automated machine and not by human hands, theres actually a sensor that
double checks if all dough gets the same volume and weight.

Ma. Cristina Santos, MBA Candidate

Its a rainy Friday morning last Sept 11, 2015. We have our plant tour at Gardenia
plant in Laguna. Looking forward that day even its raining, I am excited to have a ride
with my MBA classmates. The tour was interesting and helpful in understanding the
company process.

Upon arriving at the Gardenia Plant, it was really a delicious tour, as I already
smell the aroma of their bread. I found the place clean and organize. I observe that they
have a proper delivery schedule because we observe that trucks come simultaneously
after an hour. The bread that is loaded is freshly baked. Now after arriving and observing
a while outside the factory we are already called inside to start the tour. Our first activity
was introduction of the companys history and process on how the bread is process up to
loading it on truck; we watched a short video for the visual discussion. From what they
discuss Gardenia is also in Singapore. Also they have a color coding on tagging the bread
so that they know what to pull out in the supermarket. After the video presentation we are
allowed to observe the actual process. I am impressed on their advanced technology in
making the breads. The place where they make the bread is really clean and everyone is
on their hair net, gown and gloves. Their processes really organize and clean from
kneading the dough up to bringing it to the dispatch area.
The tour helps us understand more our course. It helps us understand that having a
planned operation is very effective to have a success in business.

Jerome G. Sison, MBA Candidate

Gardenias roots go back to Singapore where, in 1978, it began as a humble instore bakery. Increasing demand led to the opening of Gardenias first-commercial bakery
at Pandan Loop in March 1983. Gardenia has since been the market leader in Singapore
and has expanded its operations in Asia to countries such as Malaysia and Thailand with

the latest in the Gardenia chain of bakeries here in the Philippines. It all began in 1997,
QAF Limited through Gardenia International Pte. Ltd. established Gardenia Bakeries
Philippines Inc. and started construction of its bakery plant in Laguna International
Industrial Park (LIIP), Bian, Laguna. Gardenia Philippines started its operations in 1998
with the state-of-the-art bread factory rated as one of the most modern large scale bread
manufacturing facility in the country. Its major, highly-automated equipment come from
the best bakery equipment suppliers from Germany, Holland, UK and USA making it the
leading manufacturing company in the Philippines. Over the years, Gardenia has gained
wide acceptance and is now considered as the most widely distributed loaf brand,
reaching many parts of the country. World-class Products: Gardenias Steadfast
Commitment to Quality
Gardenia Philippines offers a wide array of superior bakery products including
white, wheat and health breads, flavored loaves, pandesal and snack items like snack
cakes, muffins and toasts. Gardenia breads are known for their good taste, freshness,
softness, oven-baked aroma and nutritive value. The popular Classic White Bread is
cholesterol free and bromate free, has zero transfat, and is vitamin and mineral fortified,
exceeding DOH recommendations. Its product slogan "So good...you can even eat it on
its own" best describes the product benefits.
Gardenia, being a consumer-focused and branded food company, is singularly
driven in delivering superior consumer value through providing consumers with superior
products. The Gardenia trademark means value and is respected all over Asia.
Gardenia has been awarded with International Organization for Standardization
ISO 9001: 2000 certifications from 2003 to 2009 and has now upgradedto ISO 9001:2008

in compliance with Quality Management System and certification for product quality
excellence. This assures that consumers only get the highest quality products in the
market. Moreover, Gardenia is HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point)
certified since 2003 to presentproof of the companys adherence to the systematic
approach in the identification, evaluation, and control of food safety standards. From
2004-2010, Gardenia was accorded Superbrands status by Superbrands Ltd., an
independent authority and arbiter on branding. This, on the other hand, re-affirms that
Gardenia has met the stringent criteria of market dominance, longevity, goodwill,
customer loyalty and overall market acceptance. Another notable award is the Annual
National Consumers Award (ANCA) as the Outstanding Bread Manufacturer for five
straight years.
These are some testaments which prove that Gardenia provides only the best
products for Filipino consumers.
Moving to the Future: Paving the way for Gardenias Continued Success
Gardenia Philippines pioneered a unique distribution system, ensuring that only
fresh breads reach consumers every day. Gardenia strictly follows its international policy
of keeping only fresh stocks on the store shelves. As soon as products come out of the
factory, delivery vans leave the production plant as early as 4 oclock in the morning to
bring the products to specific locations in the country. Replacing unsold breads in store
shelves with only freshly baked top-quality products during each day of delivery is a
Gardenia practice unmatched in the industry.
Since the start of its operations, Gardenia s distribution had grown rapidly.
Gardenia is now considered as the most widely distributed loaf brand in Metro Manila to

as far as Isabela, Abra, Cagayan and Ilocos provinces in the North, Bicol and Sorsogon in
the South, and Negros, Samar, Antique, Aklan, Iloilo and Leyte in the Visayas region.
Increasing demand led Gardenia to reach Cebu, Bohol, Butuan City, Iligan City, Misamis
Oriental, Bukidnon and Davao City in Mindanao. From Gardenia' s establishment in
1998, the brands success has been starkly evident with its continuous and rapid sales
growth.
This combination of superior product quality, advanced bread-making technology
and extensive system of distribution reflects the consumer-oriented vision of Gardenia
Philippines that brings consumers the highest level of product satisfaction.
The reason behind Gardenia's success is no secret; it is the people who made
Gardenia what it is today and the goal of sustaining Gardenias leadership and excellence.
Our enthusiasm to serve constitutes the yeast that raises the dough and with this,
Gardenia will continue to take the lead.
Our Vision
Our vision is to become the premier company in the baking industry and the
related food and beverage industry, known and emulated for our best quality products that
delight the consumer. It is the pride of every employee, investor, trade partner and
stakeholder.
Our Mission
Our mission is to serve consumers with the best quality assortment of greattasting bakery and related food and beverage products, with world-class manufacturing
facilities and an efficient nationwide distribution network, thereby providing a fair return
on shareholder investments.

Our Core Values

Customer Driven- Weal ways put the customer first in everything we do.
Innovation- We constantly initiate change and encourage creativity
Teamwork and Professionalism- We are one company, one team working together
professionally.
Integrity- We uphold honesty and objectivity in the things that we do.
Excellence- We relentlessly pursue continuous improvement and aim for the
highest standard in our work.
Stewardship (Malasakit)- We treat company resources with pride as if they are our
own.
Food Safety Policy
We, at Gardenia Bakeries Philippines, are committed to assure customers and
consumers that our products are produced with superior quality ingredients and according
to strict safety and hygienic standards that comply with statutory and regulatory
requirements.

Our Quality Policy

We, at Gardenia Bakeries Philippines, are committed to delight consumers by
providing best quality bakery products.
We aim for excellence through innovation and continuous improvement of our
processes, products and services, ensuring compliance with our customers and applicable
statutory and regulatory requirements.

We are steadfast in our commitment that quality begins with each and every one
of us.

Marianne C. Estrada, MBA Candidate

The class had organized a plant tour in Laguna. The chosen plant was the Gardenia,
where fresh breads came from. That was unusual to me because I had only 1 plant excursion
ever since I stated schooling. I am a bit excited and curious of what the plant could be.

We arrived at about 12 in Laguna but our appointment with the plant was at 1:00 pm so
we decided to take our lunch first. Laguna itself was a very large place, there were several plants
in different part of the region, one of the familiar place was the Techno Park, where in different
kind of plants located. We reached our destination just-in-time, we wait for several minutes
because of the first batch waiting to finish their tour. We noticed that the first batch was
composed of grade school students and there we are a graduate school student, its a bit funny
seeing the gap. Our visit started at the briefing area wherein the history of gardenia explained.
They also showed us what to expect inside the plant. They enlighten us how does their machine
function, the machine schedule, the number of persons inside the plant and their production
process up to the delivery of the products. We had also our Q and A before we proceed to the
actual production floor and of course our picture taking. We were not allowed to take pictures
on the actual production floor, there were only tour guides who explain what going on in the
production and the different stages before it became bread. The place ended to the Gardenia
mini

store

where

you

can

buy

pasalubong

and

have

your

free

taste.

It was a great experience really, there were learning that you cannot find in the book but
through actual involvement/experiences. It was a never before seen that could amaze/mesmerize
you in some ways.