Empowering Bakery Teams Through Better Training

Better Baker Academy is an online learning platform designed specifically for bakery owners, managers, and employees.

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About the Better Baker Academy

Don’t just take our word for it

“Better Baker Academy is needed in this industry because there was really nothing around like this to help me when I opened up my storefront bakery... I'm really looking forward to having this consistent training for all of my employees. It's going to overall provide much more efficient and better training for our bakery."
Sarah Burns | Omega Bakery
Owner

Bakery Employee Training Made Simple

Better Baker
academy courses

Our online bakery training courses teach the essential skills every bakery team needs to thrive. These video-based programs combine real-world bakery practices with professional standards, helping owners and managers save time on staff training while creating stronger, more efficient teams. Quizzes at the end of each module ensure bakery employees understand and can apply the material.

Module 1: Welcome & Orientation

  • Welcome video introduction to Better Baker Academy
  • Overview of the Kitchen Brigade system in large vs. small bakeries
  • Why asking questions matters & how to do it effectively
  • “Come in softly” approach to joining a new workplace
  • Tour of common bakery tools and where they’re stored

Module 2: Professional Appearance & Behavior

  • Clothing guidelines for safety and professionalism
  • Hair standards: keeping food prep areas sanitary
  • Rules on jewelry in the bakery
  • Nail care and hygiene requirements
  • Reporting sickness and why it matters for food safety
  • How to properly request vacation or time off

Module 3: Cell Phones & Music

  • Bakery policy on cell phone use during shifts
  • Safety risks of headphones and earbuds in kitchens
  • Music etiquette: respectful choices for the workplace
  • Why profanity in music (and speech) impacts customer perception and team culture

Module 4: Minding Your Ps & Qs

  • Professional bakery etiquette: stay busy and helpful
  • Respecting shared equipment and keeping stations clean
  • Storing personal belongings properly
  • Avoiding disruptions (like talking over coworkers measuring)
  • Correct handoff of orders to coworkers or customers
  • Professional phone etiquette in bakeries
  • How to properly close out your shift and leave the bakery ready for the next team

Module 5: Handwashing & Personal Hygiene

  • Proper handwashing techniques and timing
  • Wash station expectations
  • Bathroom etiquette: exiting without recontaminating
  • Rules for eating, drinking, gum, and nicotine use in food-prep spaces

Module 6: Food Safety Foundations

  • Intro to food sanitation and why it matters
  • Understanding foodborne illness and prevention
  • Overview of common foodborne pathogens

Module 7: Allergens & Cross-Contamination

  • Understanding major allergens in bakery environments
  • Working with allergen-containing products safely
  • Preventing cross-contamination at every station
  • Proper glove use for food handling

Module 8: Temperature & Food Handling

  • Food handling and temperature control overview
  • The temperature danger zone explained
  • Using thermometers correctly
  • Safe temperatures for meat and baked products
  • Proper cooling of hot products

Module 9: Sanitizing & Cleaning

  • Sanitizing surfaces: proper use of quat and bleach
  • How to make sanitizer safely
  • Using the 3-compartment sink for dishes
  • Dishwashing basics and deep cleaning practices
  • Chemical dish machine safety and operation
  • Proper drying of dishes (air drying)
  • Cleaning bakery tools: thermometers, rolling pins, vents
  • Trash and pest control protocols
  • Bathroom cleaning procedures
  • Deep cleaning routines and polishing for professionalism
  • Why it’s important to always leave the bakery cleaner than you found it

Module 10: Food Storage & Labeling

  • Proper receiving and storing of food deliveries
  • Breaking down bulk freezer items quickly and safely
  • Thawing ingredients correctly
  • Guidelines for pulling only what is needed
  • Labeling refrozen products
  • Labeling basics: what, how, and when
  • Proper tape use for containers and storage

Module 11: Measuring & Kitchen Tips

  • Common bakery measurements and conversions
  • How to use a scale properly
  • Importance of preheating ovens
  • Circuit breaker basics in bakeries
  • The “Be a Towel Hero” policy for cleanliness and safety
  • Using the waste log to track and minimize product loss

Module 12: Workplace Safety

  • General bakery safety protocols
  • Handling staff callouts responsibly
  • Identifying and managing wet floors
  • Proper bandage use and hand care for injuries

Course 101: Bakery Basics

Starting a job in a bakery can feel overwhelming. From food safety and sanitation to being a good teammate, there’s a lot to learn in a short amount of time. That’s why we created Course 101: Bakery Basics. This course provides new bakery employees with a solid foundation of the professional habits needed to succeed from their very first shift.

Module 1: Customer Service & Sales

  • The fundamentals of great customer service in bakeries
  • Proper techniques for handing off an order to customers
  • Operating and troubleshooting the point-of-sale (POS) system
  • Handling allergen requests and miscellaneous ordering with care
  • Understanding and communicating ingredient and allergen information
  • The Art of Upselling: encouraging add-ons without being pushy
  • Strategies for handling customer complaints gracefully
  • Real-world customer complaint examples and best responses
  • How to manage last-minute customer orders under pressure
  • Policies and professionalism when handling donation requests

Module 2: Time, Tasks, & Style

  • How to effectively plan your day in a bakery environment
  • Using your workspace wisely for efficiency and safety
  • Understanding how long tasks should take to keep pace with production
  • Developing a strong sense of urgency without sacrificing quality
  • Following the style and standards of the bakery brand
  • Using look books for product consistency and inspiration
  • Being open to feedback and applying it constructively

Module 3: Inventory Essentials

  • Introduction to bakery inventory systems
  • Tracking supplies and ingredient levels accurately
  • Preventing shortages, over-ordering, and waste through proper management

Module 4: Building a Positive Workplace Culture

  • Creating and sustaining a “kind kitchen” environment
  • Why clear verbal communication beats texting during work hours
  • Balancing friendships at work while staying professional
  • Managing outbursts in the kitchen and redirecting stress constructively
  • Supporting team members by asking if anyone needs help before leaving

Module 5: HR Foundations & Self-Awareness

  • Introduction to HR practices in bakery businesses
  • What HR is — and what it is not — in a small business environment
  • Focusing on personal accountability and self-awareness in the workplace
  • Why personality tools like DiSC assessments are valuable for teams
  • Best practices for providing leaving notice when moving on from a job

Course 201: Customer Service & Business Skills

For many bakeries, the biggest challenges aren’t in the kitchen — they’re in the front of house and in team management. Missed allergen details, poorly handled complaints, or weak inventory tracking can all cost a business money and reputation. Likewise, a lack of structure or positivity in the workplace can lead to turnover, frustration, and lost productivity.

Course 201 ensures your team knows not just how to serve customers, but how to do it with professionalism, efficiency, and consistency. It also gives staff the tools to manage time, stay organized, and contribute to a healthy bakery culture.

Ready to Train Smarter?

Created BY a bakery owner FOR bakery owners, Better Baker Academy delivers practical, real-world training to build stronger teams and better businesses.

Looking for a faster, easier way to onboard new bakery employees? Look no further.

JOIN NOW!
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