Bakers News

End of an Era for Bakers in Cricket

Wednesday, 17 March 2010 10:50

End of an Era for Bakers in Cricket
After 27 years of sponsorship of the Bakers Mini-Cricket programme,
Bakers bids farewell to Cricket in South Africa

Johannesburg, 17 March 2010. AVI group company National Brands today announced that after 27 years of sponsorship, its biscuit brand Bakers would no longer be sponsoring the Bakers Mini-Cricket programme when its contract with Cricket South Africa (CSA) expires in June. This is a mutual parting of the ways. Popular and loved by schools and primary school children countrywide, the Bakers Mini-Cricket programme has spawned some of the country's best known cricket stars including Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher and Makayha Ntini.

Bakers Mini-Cricket is the longest running developmental sports programme in Southern Africa with over 100,000 primary school children from over 5000 schools annually taking part in the programme. Initiated by Dr Ali Bacher, then Managing Director of the South African Cricket Union - and with Bakers as sponsor, the progamme was designed to bring together young children of all races to play cricket together in a structured environment that promoted racial harmony and healthy relationships.

CSA CEO, Gerald Majola, said: "Over the past 27 years, we have together pioneered the way for children, boys and girls, from all communities to gain entry into the game through Bakers Mini Cricket.

"Administrators and coaches have also been introduced to the game in this way and have paved the way for children to have fun and to progress into first-class players.

"There has been an accelerated growth of cricket in South Africa and CSA wants to harness this growth in terms of our strategic plan for South African cricket in the future."

"The expansion of the game, with mini cricket at the heart, is essential to this strategic plan. Consequently, we have secured a long-term partnership with a major international brand to assist with mini cricket in this regard and an announcement will be forthcoming soon."

"History will record the critical role that Bakers has played in developing South African cricket to this point, and CSA will always be grateful for this."

David Hood, Managing Director of Bakers said, "We have partnered with Cricket in South Africa for almost 27 years and of course it's hard for us all at Bakers not to feel somewhat emotional when saying goodbye to a programme that is the heartbeat of young cricket players, and part of our lives, for so long." "We will always look back proudly on our association with CSA, the very committed coaches and administrators and of course the young cricketers themselves."

Hood said that Bakers wished Cricket South Africa every success with its plans for the future of the Mini Cricket programme, and he hoped that the programme would continue to benefit school children as it has done over the past 27 years.

Ends

For further information contact:
Jeanne Rosenberg, Bakers, 082 322 3096, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Kass Naidoo, Cricket South Africa, 083 923 9746, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sharon Mattinson, Sharon Mattinson Communications, 082 658 5826, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Terms and Conditions of Coupon Promotion

Friday, 27 November 2009 13:37

• This promotion is open to all residents of South Africa.

• To participate in this competition, you are required to purchase any 1Kg or 2 Kg "Choice Assorted" or 1 Kg "Snacktime" product bearing a sticker on the exterior of the box, indicating the inclusion of the free coupon booklet.

• The redemption value of the included coupons is R44.00, which amount includes VAT.

• The coupons may be used in reduction of the retail purchase price of BAKERS, PYOTTS, WILLARDS, FRESHPAK, TRINCO, FIVE ROSES, ELLIS BROWN, I&J and PRO-VITA products only, as indicated on the coupons.

• The expiry date of the coupons is 31 December 2010 and no redemptions shall be considered beyond that date.

• The judges' decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

For help or enquiries please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call our helpline on 0860 100 138.

The Original is Back

Tuesday, 03 November 2009 15:35

For more chances to win your share of R150 000, sms your name and "Bakers Tennis: Back by popular demand" to 34599.

Most South Africans have grown up with Baker's Tennis Biscuits. Whether dunking one in your tea, enjoying them as the base to your favourite fridge tart, or simply eating one whenever you can, it is the taste of Tennis that keeps it a firm favourite from one generation to the next.

And it is this taste that is integral to the success of Tennis Biscuits, which is why when a production problem interfered slightly with this famous and unforgettable taste, we took action quickly and corrected the problem to ensure that all you Tennis Biscuit lovers out there stayed happy with your favourite biscuit.

So, now that we've brought back the original recipe, we are now happy to announce that the taste that you have come to know and love is back by popular demand, and that you can enjoy YOUR Baker's Tennis Biscuit just as you always have.

View Terms and Conditions

Bakers Bats for Charity...

Friday, 23 October 2009 15:37

Bakers Mini Cricket brings you Bakers Bats for Charity...
Children playing for Children

For the past 26 years, Bakers Biscuits have been giving back to South Africa with their sponsorship of the Bakers Mini Cricket programme. Run in association with Cricket SA, Bakers Mini Cricket is the longest running developmental sports sponsorship in Africa and is aimed at introducing primary school children to the game of cricket. Today, over 100 000 children from over 5 000 schools are involved in the programme.

Bakers and Cricket South Africa, two landmark brands on the South African landscape, now bring you a brand new initiative in keeping with Bakers Mini Cricket's ethos of bringing the game of cricket to all South African children. "With a solid foundation we feel that it is time to expand on the current equity that Bakers Mini Cricket holds. We are therefore extremely excited to introduce a new charity initiative - Bakers Bats for Charity," announces Heather Partner, Bakers Category Director.

The initiative is based on each cricket union securing corporate sponsorship for each Bakers Mini Cricket match played in that specific region. "The initiative aims to showcase how children can come together and raise money for other children in need," says Partner.

In September 2010, a cheque of R 1 million will be donated to Touch Africa, a children's based charity who contribute to the lives of under privileged children across South Africa. Touch Africa is Bakers and Cricket South Africa's beneficiary of choice for Bakers Bats for Charity for a number of reasons. Partner explains that Bakers Mini Cricket are proud to be involved in schools-based projects and with Touch Africa because the two initiatives have children in common and Touch Africa reflects the same values as the Bakers Mini Cricket programme. Partner adds, "We also believe in the sustainability of education-orientated projects." Gerald Majola, CEO of Cricket South Africa said, "Cricket South Africa wholeheartedly supports and endorses the Bakers Bats for Charity initiative that is aimed at assisting children through the Touch Africa campaign."

"Bakers and Cricket SA have shared the same drive to bring fun and fulfillment to children through cricket for several decades now, and Bakers Bats for Charity is a most welcome addition to this. CSA urges all its stakeholders, commerce, industry and the public to support this worthy cause," said Majola.

Mike Glover, Touch Africa CEO is as eager about the initiative and yearlong relationship between the organisation and Bakers Mini Cricket. He says, "It's so wonderful to have Bakers, Cricket South Africa, members of cricket unions and their neighbouring corporates getting behind this project. I'm have no doubt that this combination of resources will make for a formidable team and we look forward to making schools a better place and seeing improved school attendance and academic results."

To find out more about the Bakers Mini Cricket Programme and Bakers Bats for Charity:
www.bakersminicricket.co.za

The Bakers Man shines at Loeries 2009

Friday, 23 October 2009 12:23

The annual Loerie Awards, the first ever to be held in Cape Town during the last week of September, was the 31st awards ceremony in the long history of this prestigious event. At the final awards ceremony hosted by the SABC, a total of 95 awards were handed out, with two being Grand Prix, eight Gold and five Craft Gold.

Bakers have long been known for delighting South African audiences with regular appearances by the Bakers Man on local television screens and this year's Loerie Award results show that not much has changed.

Taking home a Craft Gold in the category of TV and Cinema Crafts for Art Direction and a Craft Certificate in the same category for Animation and Special Visual Effects, AVI's advertising agency Ogilviy Johannesburg certainly took the biscuit at this year's awards ceremony.

"We are thrilled with the results achieved at this year's Loerie awards. It's been such an adventure for us to work on the Bakers brand. It's always a privilege to get involved with a brand that South African's have grown up with and that resonates with audiences of all ages on so many levels," said Bridget Johnson, Creative Director on the Bakers account Ogilvy Johannesburg.

Bakers TV Ad

Friday, 08 May 2009 15:55

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!

Take a Biscuit with Bakers and Pyotts

Monday, 20 April 2009 12:02

Take a Biscuit, a joint initiative between Bakers and Pyotts, was a 13-episode television series that flighted on SABC2 every Sunday lunchtime from the 7th of December 2008.

Produced and directed by Anne Myers of The 2 Blonds and a Redhead Filming Company, the series revolved around two actors/cooks throwing surprise parties for real people. Naturally, only party fare made with Bakers and Pyotts was served to real gusts.

A supporting website www.takeabiscuit.co.za was created to give viewers access to the recipes that featured on the show. An interactive site, viewers could also submit their own recipes and send in their comments about the series. An online website auditing system was put into place and from week one of the series, the visits went crazy. Visitors totaling 41,183 viewed a staggering 256,614 pages. More than 80% downloaded the pages onto their hard drives. They stayed on the site for much-above-average 4.43 minutes per visit and we received more than 500 emails with highly complimentary comments for the show. The week after the show ended, we were inundated with emails from viewers voicing their disappointment and begging for more.

The website not only served to satisfy the Take a Biscuit viewers, but also fed the Party with Pyotts website. There were 2892 visitors to that site between 1 Jan 2009 to 29 March 2009 of which 1109 were direct referrals from the Take a Biscuit website: a referral rate of 38% - rather astonishing if you consider that they were unsolicited with no link on the referring site. The Take a Biscuit site patently stirred the interest in the brands, the party or entertaining-at-home concept.

It is becoming more and more evident that brands that want to stay connected to their customers should reward them. An interactive website that offers consumers valuable and usable information has proved clearly that giving is the new taking and has become a powerful marketing tool to be used as support of all other marketing activities.

The Bakersman Is Still Producing Magic After 150 Years

Tuesday, 23 September 2008 10:44

Popular South African biscuit producer Bakers, who has been supplying South Africans with delicious treats for over 150 years, has re-launched the brand with a complete new look.

The Bakers makeover will ensure consumers never have to search for their favourite biscuit again as the strong brand identity will be easily recognisable on-shelf.

The relaunch introduces three tiers each with their own distinct look and feel to identify the Bakers products.

Original and Best includes Tennis, Eet-Sum-Mor, Red Label Lemon Creams, Blue Label Marie and Topper and has been designed to reinforce the everyday good quality and trusted value of these favourite biscuits.

The Select range is aimed at those special treat moments during the day for the family and friends and includes Romany Creams, Choc Kits, Boudoir, Gossips, Nuttikrust, Royal Creams, Strawberry Whirls and Bettasnack. The new Kids range is designed in bright and funky colours and fonts and includes Jolly Jammers, Jambos, Choc-O-Break and new Strawberry Milkshake Finger Biscuits.

The third tier introduces the new 'Baked with Love' premium range of indulgent biscuits for a decadent treat. These include three flavours of bite-sized buttons and three mouth-watering chocolate coated shortbread variants.

Across all products, the new packaging displays the Halaal and Kosher certification, the Bakersman quality pledge, the Bakers Mini Cricket logo to emphasise the brand's 25 year sponsorship, as well as a new trans fat free label signifying Bakers' commitment to providing healthier snacks.

The new Bakers look can be seen on shelf from June 2008.

The Ultimate Indulgence for Bakers

Tuesday, 23 September 2008 10:43