Dan Cake looks to double production

Stepping into its second year, Dan Foods plans to double its manufacturing capacity by installing a new production line at its factory in Savar.

The maker of Danish muffins and pound cakes under the brand name Dan Cake will introduce new bakery items such as donuts and brownies under the new initiative by the first quarter of next year.

“We are working on installing the new production line,” said Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman Khan, plant manager of Dan Foods.

Dan Foods currently produces muffins and pound cakes through a single production line, though it has the capacity to install four production lines on its 18,000 square feet of main manufacturing area. The factory is located on 1.6 acres of land in the neighborhood of Birulia.

It supplies around 140 tonnes of muffins and pound cakes a month to the local market.

Dan Foods began its journey in Bangladesh in 2012 through a joint venture between Dan Cake, Denmark and Pandughar Ltd. It launched its products last year. Dan Foods' initial investment was Tk 55 crore.

Bangladesh is also the first country in Asia for Dan Cake; it looks to step into other countries in the region from here.

“We have high expectations. In addition to focusing on the local market, we are also eyeing to step into other Asian countries through exports from Bangladesh,” said Khan.

The main strengths of Dan Cake are taste and hygiene. From cracking eggs to packaging, the entire process is automated with state-of-the-art machinery.

The temperature is even controlled and a strict hygiene procedure is followed by every staff member.

Khan said 18 types of raw materials are used in the process and all the raw materials, except eggs and sugar, come from abroad.

“One ingredient is pre-mixed and comes from the headquarters and no-one knows its specifications.”

The recipe is also directly controlled and monitored from Denmark, he said. Dan Cake now has 56 permanent employees, 23 of whom work for production. It also hires temporary workers when required.

The history of Dan Cake dates back to the 19th century, when Jens Eskildsen, a baking aficionado, began practising his art in the small Danish town of Give. Prior to that, he was inspired by years of watching his mother making the best muffins and cakes for a young Eskilden.

Starting its sugary journey from the town of Give in 1931, the small bakery turned into a large production factory, where Dan Cake shovelled deep into the art of baking gifting the food industry with delights like Swiss rolls, muffins and layer cake.

It entered the UK in 1984, Poland in 1990, Sweden in 1992, Finland in 1992, Czech Republic in 1992, Turkey in 1992 and Russia in 1998. Dan Cake managed to win over hearts and palates in all these countries and the brand managed to satiate appetites everywhere it went, and now in Bangladesh.