Breadwinner

Marco Lazatin, could have pursued a more lucrative enterprise such as real estate as other members of the Pampanga-based clan are doing, but he opted for the trade probably more ancient than the Bible.

It may even be said that Lazatin offers bread in one hand and holds the Holy Book in the other.

Still yuppy-looking at "40 something," Lazatin and his comely wife Aida, have found a workable and practical mix of commerce and charity that inspires emulation from their employees and other people who had the opportunity of breaking bread with them.

He asserts that for any business to succeed, it must have a plan that serves the Lord.

In the office, Lazatin never lost focus of his corporate objectives. He knows exactly what he wants and knows how to get it.

A Fine Family Tradition

The humble beginning of Lazatin’s business could be traced back to 1945 when their patriarch, Jesus Lazatin, together with his sisters opened the most modern supermarket in Pampanga, the Essel Supermarket.

Located right in the heart of San Fernando town, it offered a complete line of products from garments to foodstuffs, along with an in-house baked items. Both women dreamed of coming up with the best, most delectable bread, pies, and pastries in the land.

In 1985, an ever-growing customer acceptance and popularity drove the Lazatin sisters to perfecting their trade, giving rise to Essel Bakeline, now a household brand of bread for the Kapampangans and residents of nearby provinces.

It was a dream come true for the Lazatins – that of bringing quality bread to every dining table in Pampanga.

When the younger Lazatins eventually took over Essel Bakeline, they brought the business to new heights.

"Now with over a hundred employees, Bake Line still maintains the tradition started by the founding sisters years ago in a never-ending quest to give the Filipino a wholesome, delicious and over-fresh bread and pastries," Lazatin says.

With increasing demand for its products, Bake Line put up its first outlet in nearby Angeles City in 1995. Since then, it continued to grow. At present, it has 11 strategically located outlets.

It was the zeal in the couple’s heart, notwithstanding the calamities brought about by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and the yearly floods that have been sweeping Pampanga. It seemed there was no stopping them for stepping on the gas and keeping up with the realities that were once just a vision. Looking back at their experiences, the couple said: "It was one step backward, two steps forward."

The passion that they nurtured for the business refused to die down even with the passing of time.

From Bake Line’s famous, sandwich Loaf to its Family Loaf and delicately prepared pastries and cakes, the company just kept growing, supplanting its simple and antiquated ovens with sophisticated machines using foreign technology.

Its single delivery van turned into a fleet of vehicles that are now a common sight in Pampanga’s highways and marketplaces.

Bake Line’s dramatic growth soon brought up the need for a more spacious commissary to accommodate huge demands of traditional distribution centers.

Moving On With The Times

To keep up with the competition specifically those employing world-class standards, Bake Line acquired a modern production facility that came all the way from Australia – complete from ovens to steel beams and aluminium windows to rivets.

The new Bake Line plant which houses the so-called commissary, is located along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Maimpis, San Fernando. The couple describe their property as "one of the most modern commissionaries in Central Luzon.

Inaugurated in March last year, the plant’s production line is now almost 100 percent fully automated – from mixing, proofing, baking cooling and packaging.

Lazatin said the process virtually eliminated human intervention, while at the same time improving sanitations standards and guarantees oven freshness until the bread reaches the customers’ table.

The plant is capable of producing 1,600 loaves per hour. The two bun lines, the pastry and cake line complete the capabilities of the commissary.

To cope with the 21st century call for excellence, Bake Line and its staff look forward to being globally competitive, manufacturing world-class products offering superior qualify for their customers money. With its wide network of outlets and distribution centers found inside malls including Shoemart and Robinsons in Pampanga, Bake Line eyes greater market share to cover Metro Manila and the rest of Central Luzon.

The firm will soon launch another network of outlets through franchising through distribution partnership agreements that will enable enterprising people the opportunity to ride on Bake Line brand.

It may be truly said that Marco wins bread for the family by making the winning bread.