Hiring & Consistent Training
A bakery owner recently said something I had never heard articulated before: “The quality of training my bakery staff is
Hi, I’m Jen Barney—a proud bakery owner, mom, wife, and winner of three Food Network Championships. I created Better Baker Academy because our bakery industry needs something practical, fast, and effective: a resource to guide new bakers into the fast-paced world of pastry kitchens, while helping bakery owners and managers train staff in a way that is efficient, thorough, and sustainable.
Let’s be real—training new bakery employees is hard. It’s expensive, it pulls your best staff away from production, and without a clear plan, new hires often struggle to reach their potential. Poorly trained staff can quickly become dissatisfied, which leads to high turnover and wasted payroll dollars.
When I opened my retail bakery, I was overwhelmed. I lost some of my best people because they were frustrated by my lack of organization. I didn’t always follow through on kitchen standards, and my bandwidth was too stretched to manage training properly.
So, what did I do? (Besides cry a little!) I started educating myself on how to build stronger bakery teams. I leaned on HR experts, sought mentorship everywhere I could, and committed to learning continuously. Over time, I developed systems and strategies that made training smarter, not harder.
I built Better Baker Academy because I wanted a way to train bakery staff that saves time, reduces stress, and supports both owners and employees. As a business owner, I can’t afford to waste money on poorly trained staff. And as a pastry chef, I know how toxic kitchen environments can be when staff don’t feel supported.
This program is about creating better kitchens, better businesses, and better bakers. With structured training resources, bakery teams can spend less time struggling and more time doing what we all love—creating amazing desserts.
If you’re a bakery owner, manager, or aspiring pastry chef, Better Baker Academy was built for you. Together, we can transform bakery training, reduce turnover, and create thriving teams where staff feel valued and supported.
Join me in creating better kitchens, better businesses, and ultimately: better bakers!
A bakery owner recently said something I had never heard articulated before: “The quality of training my bakery staff is
Running a successful bakery takes more than great recipes. It requires strong customer service, business skills, and a workplace culture